Say hello to the hottest Hollywood starlets over 40

Despite the seemingly youth-obsessed culture in showbiz, the 40 plus woman in Hollywood isn’t just being recognised, she’s being celebrated. Refined, sophisticated and beautiful, we look at the most gorgeous female celebrities that have maintained their looks well into maturity.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston, 42, is no longer the quirky “girl next door” but now an established, respected actress. She continues to grace the front covers of magazines and even posed nude for GQ in 2009. Her attractiveness has not gone unnoticed: Aniston has dated a list of hunks including John Mayer and British model Paul Sculfor, and was also married to Brad Pitt for four and a half years! Her hairstyle and sartorial choices have been copied by women everywhere since she first made it big in Friends and we don’t see the imitation as flattery trend stopping any time soon.

[See also: Mature women top 'Most Beautiful' 2011 list]

Gwen Stefani

It is hard to believe Gwen Stefani is 41. The trendy musical mum always looks stunning, whether she is on the red carpet or just taking her two boys, Kingston and Zuma out for the day. She appears in the May US edition of ELLE magazine and reveals, “I mean, I'm very vain. That would be my middle name.” The singer added, “Of course I am; you know what I mean? I love the visual.”

Salma Hayek

Latino goddess Salma Hayek, 44, has many accolades, including being the first Mexican national to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. The director and producer has been ranked by Entertainment Weekly as one of the “25 Smartest People in TV.” Oh yeah, and did we forget to mention her curvy gorgeousness?

[Gallery: Surprise celeb named 'Sexiest Women Alive' 2011]

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren has been praised as a style icon for mature women: she truly is the Queen of ageless style. The legendary actress puts some of her younger counterparts to shame with her flawless red carpet sartorial choices that boast well-fitted outfits that compliment her curves and tastefully show off her assets. Since sporting a two-piece bikini on her beach holiday in Italy three years ago, Mirren has left many wondering how she manages to still look amazing at 65.

Kylie Minogue

For over 20 years Kylie Minogue has wowed us with her ever-changing style - but one thing that has remained the same is her sex appeal. At 42, the pint-sized pop star has tamed down her outfits and credits good underwear and all-body make up for that perfect derrière.

[Revealed: The most attractive feature in women]

Kim Cattrall

‘Sex and the City’ actress Kim Cattrall, 54, must have inherited the-hot-at-any-age gene. The poster chick for midlife women has her own list of inspiring females. She told the Daily Mail, “I want to embrace ageing,” admiring elder Hollywood stars Dame Judi Dench and Annette Benning, Cattrall told the paper she does not feel the need to go under the knife to retain her looks.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez was recently named ‘Most Beautiful’ 2011 by People magazine, something the 42-year-old is very proud of. Not only is she looking good but the singer is celebrating topping the charts again with her comeback track ‘On The Floor’ and appearing as a judge on the current season of American Idol.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore, 48 has divorced twice, had three children and still has the body of a 20yearold. With or without a little cosmetic help, Moore still has got it. How does she remain so youthful? It could be all down to her beauty regime. Moore is no stranger to tweeting every detail of her life and recently posted a picture of herself on her Twitter wearing a spooky white paper face mask.

Elle MacPherson

Elle MacPherson, 48, otherwise known as “the body”, still has her supermodel figure that made her so famous in the ‘90s. Elle has kept her long and lean frame by staying active; she is always photographed taking her kids to school in her gym wear and has made the school-run an occasion to dress for.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry, 44, could be the most fabulous 40-something on the list. Known for looking sizzling hot in everything she wears, Halle turned heads in an orange bikini for her role as a Bond girl in ‘Die Another Day’ and showed off her toned figure in a cat suit for ‘Catwoman’. Shortly after giving birth to her baby girl in 2008, the Oscar-winning actress was given a huge confidence boost when was crowned “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone has been recognised as a mature beauty for a long time. The 53-year-old actress has strong opinions on Hollywood, age and women. While filming ‘Basic Instinct 2’ in London, Sharon told reporters, “It's so different in Europe where you have only to walk down the street to remember you are a woman,” she added. “In America we tend to erase women after 40 - and this is a period when I think women become the most interesting. They are sexual in a very different and alluring way.”

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