When we wrote last week about the Allure survey that revealed lesbians love dating women 10 or more years older than them, you all came in your pants and then also requested an over-40 gallery. 40 seems super-young to us though, so we went ahead and made an executive decision that what you actually wanted was a gallery of over-50s, but then we realized that Tami Taylor is only 46, so we made an executive decision that it’d be a 45+ gallery. (You know what’s really hard? Finding photographs of famous women that haven’t been airbrushed so you can actually tell how old they are in the picture! Wrinkles are sexy and airbrushing ruins everything, sigh.) Members of the LGBT community are indicated as such in parentheses.
125 Smokin’ Hot Actresses, Musicians, Models & Directors Over 45
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- Angela Bassett, 54
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- Connie Britton, 46
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- Shobna Gulati, 46
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- Ellen DeGeneres, 55 (L)
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- Annette Benning, 54
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- Joan Chen, 51
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- Alex Kingston, 50
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- Garcelle Beauvais, 46
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- Allison Janney, 52
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- Ann Curry, 56
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- Cherry Jones, 62 (L)
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- Iman, 57
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- Helen Mirren, 67
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- Cheryl Dunye, 46 (L) via flickr
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- Cat Cora, 45 (L)
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- Beverly Johnson, 60
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- Cynthia Nixon, 46 (L)
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- Elaine Miles, 52
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- Ally Sheedy, 50
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- Elizabeth Peña, 51
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- Elizabeth McGovern, 51
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- Alfre Woodard, 60
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- Diane Lane, 48
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- Vivica A. Fox, 48
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- Diane Keaton, 67
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- Gloria Estefan, 55
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- Mary Steenburgen, 60
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- Emma Suárez, 48
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- Famke Jansen, 48
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- Halle Berry, 46
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- Emmylou Harris, 65
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- Lauren Tom, 51
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- Helen Hunt, 49
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- Jane Valez-Mitchell, 57 (L)
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- Gina Gershon, 51 (B)
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- Tracy Chapman, 48 (L)
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- Glen Close, 66
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- Jennifer Beals, 49
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- Jamie Lee Curtis, 54
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- Jin Xing, 46 (T)
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- Jane Seymour, 62
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- Phylicia Rashad, 64
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- Jeanne Tripplehorn, 49
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- Toni Braxton, 45
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- Jessica Lange, 63
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- Juhi Chawla, 45
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- Camryn Manheim, 52
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- Rosie Perez, 48
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- Mariska Hargitay, 49
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- Vanessa Williams, 50
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- Lauren Hutton, 67
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- Ming-Na Wen, 49
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- Joan Jett, 54 (B)
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- Gong Li, 47
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- Tilda Swinton, 52
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- Jenny Shimizu, 45 (L)
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- Jodie Foster, 50 (L)
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- Khandi Alexander, 55
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- Julianne Moore, 52
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- Juliette Binoche, 49
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- Kate Walsh, 45
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- Katey Sagal, 59
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- Robin Roberts, 52 (L)
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- Kelly McGillis, 55 (L)
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- Kimberly Pierce, 45 (L)
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- Jane Lynch, 52 (L)
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- Lana Wachowski, 47 (T)
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- Laura Dern, 46
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- Sarita Choudhury, 46
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- Kristin Scott Thomas, 52
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- Lauren Velez, 48
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- Emme, 50
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- Linda Perry, 47 (L)
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- Kelly Hu, 45
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- Lisa Cholodenko, 48 (L)
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- Maggie Cheung, 48
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- Maria Bello, 45
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- Lynn Whitfield, 59
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- Melissa De Sousa, 45
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- Amy Ray, 48 (L)
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- Michelle Fairley, 48
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- Maria Canals Barrera, 46
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- Mary Gauthier, 51 (L)
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- Sakina Jaffrey, 51
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- Mary McDonnell, 60
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- Viola Davis, 47
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- Mary Louise Parker, 48
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- Roberta Close, 48 (T)
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- Megan Mullally, 53 (B)
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- Pam Grier, 63
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- Melissa Etheridge, 51 (L)
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- Michael Michele, 46
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- Meredith Baxter, 65 (L)
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- Mira Nair, 55
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- Meryl Streep, 63
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- Mo’Nique, 45
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- Rene Russo, 59
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- Oprah Winfrey, 59
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- Monica Bellucci, 48
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- Robin Givens, 48
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- kd Lang, 51 (L)
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- Raquel Welch, 72
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- Nathalie Baye, 64
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- Salma Hayek, 46
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- Lori Loughlin, 48
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- Nigella Lawson, 53
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- Peggy Lipton, 66
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- Sheila May Tousey, 52
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- Rosanna Arquette, 53
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- Marlee Matlin, 47
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- Victoria Rowell, 53
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- Michelle Pfeiffer, 54
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- Sonia Braga, 62
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- Sela Ward, 56
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- Deborah Dyer aka “Skin,” 46 (B)
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- Sigourney Weaver, 62
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- Tamara Tunie, 54
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- Sophie B Hawkins, 46 (B)
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- Tina Turner, 73
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- Susan Sarandon, 66
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- Julia Roberts, 45
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- Tracey Edmonds, 46
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- Wanda Sykes, 49 (L)
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- Carrie Anne Moss, 45
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- Rosie O’Donnell, 50 (L)
Wow. These are some of my favorite people in movies and such. Now I understand another reason I love them so much.
Helen Miren and Laura Dern. That is all.
Nigella Lawson. That is all.
I love watching Nigella on t.v. She can make mudcakes seem delicious AND sexy enough to eat.
This is amazing.
BUT WHERE IS DEBBIE HARRY
And WHERE IS ISABELLA ROSSELLINI?!
Word. 98% sure Isabella Rossellini made me queer.
Mary Steenburgen (and Elisabeth Shue!) in Back to the Future, Part 3 were easily my first lady crushes. 7 year old me just sat there for the entire two hours with butterflies in my stomach and thinking, “I am a fan…………of YOUR FACE!”
Mary Steenburgen always!!!! She is such a fox!
fuck, i just realized how old i am
Holy fuck, it’s a gallery of my childhood crushes, and they got even hotter while I wasn’t paying attention!
I’m in love with the way the new gallery works. (This is new, yes? I haven’t been doing it wrong this whole time, have I?)
Also, y’know. The ladies. Let’s hear it for the BSG representation.
I was thinking exactly the same thing – “This is amazing…wait, have I been doing it wrong all this time?!”
agreed re: BSG. I’ll be in my rack.
Mmmph. Alex Kingston and Allison Janney.
Yeah, I just about died of happiness when I saw Alex Kingston.
right? all I could imagine was “Hello, Sweetie”.
such a good list!!!
Aww, baby Joanie is cute and everything but over 45 Joan is just *unf*
>>> http://www.markabrahams.com/plate/joan-jett.html?file=assets/photos/plates/joan-jett/joan-jett-2.jpg :D
Sarita Choudhury. Linda Perry. Foxy… I mean, Pam Grier!!! Yay, gallery, I want to marry you!
Uh, sweaty Joanie… awesome! Thank you for that AS <3
I’ve recently started watching Doctor Who, and Alex Kingston is officially at the top of my MILF list. I mean, that hair is just….unf.
that hair gives me butterflies every time
I watched all the episodes of Doctor Who too and Alex Kingston gives me all the feelings.
My first experience was of her on ER and I thought she was so gorgeous. BUT THEN River Song came along and she just solidified her place as the woman of my dreams. That HAIR. I want to grab it in handfuls in a fit of lustful passion.
“grab it in handfuls in a fit of lustful passion” is the perfect wording for expressing the feelings i have re: alex kingston’s hair.
And now, a woman who make young wanda sykes look like garbage… Middle-aged wanda sykes!
I see no Kate Mulgrew on this list and it displeases me.
http://pinterest.com/pin/146718900332081028/
http://www.startrek.com/legacy_media/images/200307/mulgrew01/320×240.jpg
I also love some Kate Mulgrew. I’m also so sad that Gillian Anderson missed the list by 1 year.
That was my first thought upon clicking this link. GILLIAN…
I was just thinking, where’s my childhood crush Scully?!?
Which only means that we get another gallery next year. And one the year after because we need Gina Torres to be in it!
Yes. Gina Torres.
Oh my, it’s like my fairy gaymother smiled upon me today. Excuse me while I sigh in admiration and attraction. And may I say, to whoever included the gorgeous Juhi Chawla, you have excellent taste.
thank you
this is lovely, obvs from comments we can help with part 2.
I have died, I am dead. You have officially outdone yourselves.
::Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover playing in background::
Alex Kingston and Mary McDonnell, my wishes come true.
…well, some of them.
There are some great ladies here but you are missing Shirley Manson.
LOVE!
Also, these ladies are as diverse as they are beautiful. Way to go, team!
Can’t believe Sarah Palin didn’t make the cut.
AHHHHH, Joan Chen!!! (inner fangirl showing)
Also, I totally remember Khandi Alexander as the doctor that does autopsy in CSI: Miami (R.I.P.)
Riese, I love you so much for putting this gallery up. Toni Braxton is my future lady. I was hoping to see her on here and my heart skipped a beat when I did. I’m so crazy about her…no words can describe how I feel and I seriously mean that. After seeing her and the rest of the women on this list I can “breathe again”.
I’ve had a huge crush on Sigourney Weaver for as long as I can remember. Watching her do battle with the queen in Aliens = pure heaven.
Oh, Mariska Hargitay. Thank you so much for making me wonder if I was gay.
Oh, kd. Had a crush on her ever since I was in high school and saw the video for Trail of Broken Hearts and couldn’t tell if she was a boy or a girl and quickly became obsessed with waiting for that video to replay on VH1.
Also, swoon @ Cheryl Dunye, one of my other first crushes.
The question is: where are Julianna Margulies, Anna Chancellor and Christine Baranski? I know, I know. There’re only 125 spots. Make it 200 and also include Penny Downie, ’cause she is a babe.
Anna Chancellorrrrrrrr, yessssss
Giggity.
Lauren Velez, Alison Janey, Viola Davis, Meryl, Jamie Lee Curtis, Angela Bassett, Toni Braxton, Connie Britton (forever and ever and ever), Elizabeth Pena, Jennifer Beals (BETTE PORTER!), Melissa De Sousa, Pam Grier, Alfre Woodward, Mary Louise Parker, Juilanne More, Felicia Rashad, Annette Bening, and (omg!!!) Kate Walsh.
Autostraddle, you continue to know me so well. These are the crushes that I tell few about. It’s like you went into my SOUL, haha.
(only sad part is that Gina Torres missed the cutoff by 2 years. Let’s do this again some day!)
This is one of very few posts on any AS gallery I find myself enjoying waaaaay too much. Like Lynn Whitfield, YEEEEEEESSSSSS!
KATE WALSH!!!!
Joan Jett still looks 25 in that pic
Famke Jansen.
She’s older than my mother and I do not care.
LANA WACHOWSKI’S HAIR. Is perfect.
Connie Britton and Kate Walsh!
I appreciate the Salma Hayek photo, thank you AS :)
and kd lang is the hottest woman alive.
How had I NEVER REALISED that I had such a thing for older women? Thank you Autostraddle for revealing yet another part of myself.
ah! I want to send this to my 48-year-old stepmom who is so super awesome and a director and just gave birth to twins. But alas I cannot bring myself to send her something with the term “came in your pants” in the intro paragraph. We haven’t reached that level in the stepmom/stepdaughter relationship.
Jennifer Beals will be 50 this year and doesn’t look like she’s aged much at all. I want to know her secret. I pray I look as good as she does when I’m her age.
I may have experienced brain fuzz due to so much beauty, but um where is CARRIE FISHER??!? Did I miss her?
My first (and still) all consuming crush. I was 5 years old.
I’m not getting much work done today thanks to this.
Julianne Moore is 52?!
What a fantastic gallery! Super happy about Elaine Miles, Tilda Swinton and Sigourney Weaver though everyone is looking mighty fine
There are so many things in this world that just get better with age. Women are definitely one of those things!
All hail the BSG representation, but WHERE is Michelle Forbes? My ultimate celebrity crush!
Seriously! For all the things I’ve seen her in, the one thing I can definitively tell you is: She was in it. Which is really all that’s required. Mmm.
Ugh, she was SO HOT on BSG. And then again on True Blood.
Also, this has just reminded me of how fine Adrienne Barbeau was in Carnivale—she needs to be on this list, too!
Where is Alison Bechdel??????
At this point I’m convinced that Angela Bassett does not age. At all. She just gets more stone-cold beautiful.
LINDA. PERRY. thats it!… but wait? did i just see oprah on here?
Yes this gallery and also Wanda Sykes <3
I *literally* just created an account just so that I could commend you guys on the diversity of women represented in these photos. I mean, obviously age, but also race/sexuality/size/(dis)ability, really almost everything I could think of. It’s rare to be able to see all types of folks being celebrated as sexy. I think it is why I come back to this list time and time again. Thank you, autostraddle!
AMY RAY!!! She is sooo hot <3