What a man in his 50s and 60s looks like on the big screen is changing without the assistance of a soft focus lens.
Compare The Fantastic Four’s suave Pedro Pascal, 50, with a 51-year-old Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, 61-year-old Brad Pitt in F1 with Paul Newman in The Colour of Money, aged 61, and Paul Rudd, 56, with 49-year-old Wilford Brimley in Cocoon.
An onslaught of social media memes are regularly making the comparisons and the verdict in numerous instances is that men in Hollywood today appear to be ageing backwards, Benjamin Button-style.
In movies and advertising campaigns, Sandra Bullock, Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry have redefined expectations of what mature women look like. Now performers including Lenny Kravitz, 61, and Rob Lowe, 61, are offering smooth-skinned and trim examples of what midlife, and later, can look like for men.
Unfounded surgical solutions are speculated on social media, with a TikTok by British doctor Jonny Betteridge on Pitt’s appearance reaching more than 1 million views, but most actors remain vague about their self-care strategies. Rudd told Men’s Health magazine that looking good is all about: “Sleep first, then diet. Then weights. Then cardio.”
Here are solutions men are taking to look like a movie star that go beyond eight hours’ rest and stop short of a facelift.
Wardrobe styling
If you dress like an old man, you’re going to look like one, which is why Rudd’s youthful wardrobe and Kravitz’s commitment to leather pants pays off.
“Fit is everything,” says Melbourne stylist Prue Webb from The Wardrobe Edit. “Clothes that are too baggy or tight can age you. Paul Rudd consistently nails that sweet spot: relaxed, flattering fits that make him look effortlessly current.”
“Smart layering adds depth and flatters your shape. Lightweight jackets, over-shirts, and knits give structure without bulk. Pedro Pascal layers effortlessly - never overdone, always on point.”
Pascal and Pitt keep their appearance fresh by embracing trends and changing their stylists.
Pedro Pascal in a Calvin Klein bomber jacket, visiting Sydney for ‘The Fantastic Four’ Sydney premiere.Credit: Media-Mode / SplashNews.com
With the encouragement of stylist Julie Ragiola, Pascal bared his legs on the Met Gala red carpet and wore a plunging Bottega Veneta blouse to the Gladiator II premiere.
For The Fantastic Four press tour, Pascal has partnered with stylist Jamie Mizrahi, who also works with Jeremy Allen White and Adele, looking sleek and chic in Calvin Klein bomber jackets, Tom Ford suits and scarf shirts.
Brad Pitt recently refreshed his look for the F1 press tour, enlisting 29-year-old Dune actor Timothee Chalamet’s stylist Taylor McNeil to dress him in tie-dye tracksuits and silky shirts. If tie-dye is too much, Webb suggests focusing on denim and footwear, which can be more revealing about your Seniors Card status than the date on your driver’s license.
“Ditch dated denim,” Webb says. “Opt for slim or straight-leg jeans in dark or mid-washes. Pedro Pascal pairs his with simple jackets and sneakers – easy, clean, and age-appropriate.”
“Shoes can age you fast. For a sharper finish, swap clunky trainers or square-toed dress shoes for leather sneakers, boots or clean desert boots.”
Skin care
Pitt, Idris Elba, 52, and musician Pharrell Williams, 52, all have gender-neutral skincare lines, which is as much about business as looking good. According to financial information outfit Research and Markets the global market for men’s skincare products was valued at $US16.9 billion ($25.9 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach $US23 billion ($35.3 billion) by 2030.
“I wanted science-backed skincare that makes sense — not just for your skin, but for what you stand for,” Pitt told WWD about his La Domaine range.
Pharrell Williams launches his skincare range Humanrace in Selfridges on November 25, 2022 in London.Credit: Getty Images
While there’s increased interest in men’s skincare and cosmetics, more men are turning to solutions that go beyond moisturiser and serums.
An increasing number of laser treatments are being targeted at men in midlife, with the CoolPeel growing in popularity in Australia, using high-energy pulses to assist in improving skin texture, a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and claiming to assist with collagen production.
“It’s most popular among men aged 35 to 55, though it’s gaining traction across both younger and older age brackets,” says Michael Raghib, sales manager for High Tech Medical. With men traditionally seeking fast solutions to skin challenges, the laser treatment’s main attraction for mature men is reduced downtime.
“There’s an expectation of being presentable within two to three days, allowing a return to work and normal routine without suspicion. Minimal peeling, redness or swelling suits men who don’t want to explain having had work done.”
Hair
While action hero Jason Statham, 57, Stanley Tucci, 64, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 53, prove you don’t need a hairline to be Hollywood handsome, many men still associate ageing attractively with having something to brush in the morning.
Matthew McConaughey, 55, attributes his hair retention to topical treatments, while wrestler turned actor John Cena, 48, Community comedian Joel McHale, 53, and Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson, 50, have admitted to hair transplants.
“Over the past three years, interest in transplants has grown steadily,” says Dr Ateka Khan, co-founder of Hair Doctors clinics in Melbourne and Sydney. “We’ve gone from performing five procedures a week to averaging 17. Our current wait time is up to 10 weeks.”
“Globally, procedures have grown from 2.6 million in 2019 to over 4.3 million in 2024, showing how mainstream hair restoration has become.”
Comedian and Community actor Joel McHale, 53, has admitted to undergoing four hair transplants.Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
“We’ve had the occasional reference to Brad Pitt, model David Gandy, David Beckham or Chris Hemsworth, more as inspiration for a natural, age-appropriate result rather than something to replicate exactly.”
If a transplant seems too extreme, there’s an inexpensive and pain-free solution to looking younger.
“More men should pay attention to their eyebrows,” says hairdresser Chris Hunter from Willomina salon in Woollahra. “Ask for a quick snip while you’re getting a cut to go from a grandpa to a good sort.”
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