Top 50 Most Popular Actors In Their 40s

There is no denying the fact that Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is one of the most admired motion picture stars in the history of film production.

The actor, who was first seen in an episode of the television show Romper Room, began his screen career as a child actor. Therefore, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to claim that DiCaprio was born to act.

The legendary cine-star has been seen in globally acclaimed motion pictures such as Titanic, The Departed, The Aviator, Don't Look Up, Django Unchained, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and Revolutionary Road, to name a few.

He had been a recipient of an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards, respectively.

When DiCaprio was offered to play a part in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, based on the book of the same name by David Grann, he insisted that he wished to play the morally ambiguous Ernest Burkhart in the same. 

This might have led to the script being rewritten but it all truly paid off in the end, for the actor received critical acclaim for his diligent roleplay. 

Christian Bale is known for his unmatched dedication and recurring physical transformations for his roles.

A recipient of an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, he came into the spotlight by playing a role in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun at the age of 13.

Since then, Bale has gone on to earn the respect of the fans and critics alike by portraying challenging characters in features such as American Hustle, American Psycho, The Machinist, The Big Short, Ford v Ferrari, and the globally famed The Dark Knight trilogy.

Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the most distinguished actors to make it to our piece today.

The supremely talented motion picture star has received a British Academy Television Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award, respectively.

Appointed as Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Cumberbatch has been seen in feature films such as The Imitation Game, Star Trek Into Darkness, 1917, and The Courier, among others.

However, his fabulous character projection of Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock is credited with bringing him widespread recognition.

Casey Affleck is an accomplished screen performer who is often seen playing characters that get trapped in a situation of emotional turmoil.

A recipient of an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Satellite Award, he made his acting debut in the 1988 television film Lemon Sky.

Some of the finest films that Casey has been a part of are Manchester by the Sea, Gone Baby Gone, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, among others.

Joaquin Rafael Phoenix was first seen on the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 1982. Best known for playing shady and unconventional characters, he is the recipient of an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, respectively.

The Joker star has been seen enchanting the viewers with his performances in feature films such as Quills, Signs, Hotel Rwanda, The Master, and You Were Never Really Here.

For his performance in You Were Never Really Here, Phoenix won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor.

Best known for playing villainous or deeply-flawed anti-hero characters, Michael Fassbender was first seen on the television series Hearts and Bones in 2001.

A recipient of a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics' Choice Movie Award, the actor gained fame by delivering promising performances in feature films such as 300, Fish Tank, Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre, Steve Jobs, and Prometheus.

He can also be seen in television shows such as Band of Brothers and Hex.

The tall and talented Adam Douglas Driver made his acting debut on the television show The Unusuals in 2009. A recipient of the Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actor, he can be seen in the biographical crime drama House of Gucci.

The talented actor first shot to fame after having played a significant role in the comedy-drama series Girls. He received three consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for the same.

The supremely talented Colin Farrell was seen playing a couple of uncredited roles before he started playing key characters in mainstream features.

The talented Irish actor made his film debut as a key performer in the drama film The War Zone. He went on to make a name for himself by starring in projects such as Phone Booth, S. W. A. T., The Recruit, and Minority Report.

The Horrible Bosses actor earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his superb performance in In Bruges.

He continued to surprise viewers across the globe with adroit and relatable character projection in the wonderful drama The Banshees of Inisherin.

Bradley Charles Cooper was first seen in an episode of the popular television series Sex and the City in 1999.

A recipient of a British Academy Film Award and two Grammy Awards, the actor played his breakout role in the ridiculously popular The Hangover series of motion pictures.

He found further fame after having starred in projects such as Limitless, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and American Sniper, to name a few.

He produced, directed, and starred in the acclaimed motion picture A Star Is Born.

Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor was first seen making an appearance in an episode of the television series Screen Two. He has been a recipient of a BAFTA Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, and an NAACP Image Award, respectively.

The exceptional actor can be seen delivering acclaimed performances in feature films and television shows such as 12 Years a Slave, Doctor Strange, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Dancing on the Edge, and The Man Who Fell to Earth, among others.

James Edward Franco was first seen in an episode of Pacific Blue in 1997. He came to prominence after having played a key role in the series Freaks and Geeks.

After gaining further fame through Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, he featured in feature films such as Milk, Eat, Pray, Love, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Spring Breakers, and Oz the Great and Powerful, to mention a few.

For his spellbinding performance in 127 Hours, Franco was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. That said, the Pineapple Express star went on to grab the Golden Globe Award for his commendable character play in The Disaster Artist.

The inimitable Cillian Murphy made his acting debut in the feature film Sweety Barrett in 1998. He is also reportedly a singer, guitarist, and lyricist.

He first gained recognition after having played a role in motion pictures such as 28 Days Later, Red Eye, and Intermission.

His performance in Breakfast on Pluto earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.

Murphy shot to international fame after having played a key role in projects such as The Dark Knight Trilogy, Dunkirk, and A Quiet Place Part II.

The Peaky Blinders star delivered one of the better performances of his career in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.

Ryan Thomas Gosling, who was first seen in an episode of the television show Are You Afraid of the Dark?, is one of the most popular Hollywood stars working today.

While he has proved himself as a leading actor in several mainstream blockbusters, his contribution to independent features cannot be ignored either.

The star has been a recipient of a Golden Globe Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and two Satellite Awards, respectively.

Gosling won hearts worldwide after portraying an important role in motion pictures such as Drive, Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines, La La Land, Blade Runner 2049, and Crazy, Sweet, Love, among others.

The man added another feather to his cap by playing the endearing character of Ken in Greta Gerwig's global box-office hit Barbie, which saw him sharing the screen with the amazing Margot Robbie.

It was fun to catch him playing this role, primarily because viewers are used to seeing him playing more 'serious' or drama-driven characters.

One of the most liked actors to have stepped into his 40s, Andrew Russell Garfield made his acting debut on the television show Sugar Rush in 2005.

He has been a recipient of a Tony Award, a British Academy Television Award, and a Golden Globe Award, respectively. The actor was included on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.

For his promising character projection in the television movie Boy A, Garfield received a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. He can be seen making his presence felt in motion pictures such as Hacksaw Ridge, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, to name a few.

His supporting performance in The Social Network also fetched him nominations for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Besides being a known actor, Justin Randall Timberlake is also a hugely popular singer and songwriter.

While the singer is known to have sold over 88 million records worldwide, the actor has managed to charm his viewers by appearing in motion pictures such as Palmer, Friends with Benefits, Black Snake Moan, In Time, and Wonder Wheel, to mention a few.

The American entertainer was first seen on the television show The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.

Michael Corbett Shannon was first seen in the television movie Overexposed in 1992. He is an excellent actor, producer, musician, and theatre director, perhaps in that order.

He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice; the first time for his role in the period drama Revolutionary Road and the second time for the acclaimed psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals.

Shannon can also be seen in films such as Take Shelter, 99 Homes, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, and Man of Steel, to name a few.

Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most competent and, yet, underappreciated screen performers gracing the silver screen today.

The actor made his feature film debut in 1991's City Slickers and is known to have starred in a variety of motion pictures.

For his performance in Brokeback Mountain, he won a well-deserved BAFTA Award.

Gyllenhaal gained prominence after having proven himself as a serious screen performer in motion pictures such as Prisoners, Nocturnal Animals, Nightcrawler, and Enemy, to mention a few.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is his highest-grossing project to date.

Óscar Isaac is an actor who is often credited with bringing about change in the representation of Latinos in Hollywood.

The talented actor is known for having delivered versatile performances in both independent and blockbuster feature films.

Named the best actor of his generation by Vanity Fair in 2017, Isaac can be seen in acclaimed projects such as Robin Hood, Drive, A Most Violent Year, Ex Machina, and X-Men: Apocalypse, to mention a few.

However, his most remarkable performance has come in the spectacular musical drama Inside Llewyn Davis.

Eddie Redmayne is one of the most competent and productive screen performers to make it to our story.

The actor made his acting debut on the television series Animal Ark and is best known for his roles in biopics and mainstream hits.

Redmayne, who is now in his 40s, has been a recipient of an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Laurence Olivier Awards, respectively.

One can appreciate his character projections in movies such as The Theory of Everything, My Week with Marilyn, Les Misérables, The Danish Girl, and The Good Nurse.

The wide-eyed RamiMalek made his professional acting debut in an episode of a television series Gilmore Girls in 2004.

The actor is best known for playing the character of computer hacker Elliot Alderson in the television series Mr. Robot. For his performance in the same, he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

However, the Night at the Museum actor found further fame after having played the role of singer Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

For his magnificent performance in Bohemian Rhapsody, Malek won the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and British Academy Film Award for Best Actor, respectively.

Jesse Adam Eisenberg is an exceptionally talented screen performer who was first seen playing a role in a show, titled Get Real. The actor, director, producer, and writer chanced upon the opportunity to play the main lead in Roger Dodger.

Following his time on the aforementioned flick, he appeared in feature films such as The Emperor's Club, The Village, The Squid and the Whale, and The Education of Charlie Banks.

Jesse's outstanding performance in David Fincher's The Social Network earned him nominations for the BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards for Best Actor, respectively.

Jason Sudeikis is not only a talented actor but also a comedian, producer, and writer. He put each of his skills on full display in the acclaimed Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso.

The actor gave his career a kick-start through improv comedy during the 1990s. And, with the dawn of the new century, one could find him playing prominent roles in movies such as We're the Millers, Downsizing, Booksmart, and the Horrible Bosses franchise.

Jason also starred in popular shows such as 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Last Man on Earth.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, besides being a mainstream screen performer in Hollywood, is also the founder of the online media platform HitRecord.

The star broke into the scene as a child actor by appearing in a handful of television movies and shows.

He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his leading performances in titles such as 500 Days of Summer and 50/50.

Gordon-Levitt can also be seen in popular flicks such as Don Jon, Lincoln, Looper, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, to name a few.

Known for his distinctive Scottish accent, James McAvoy was first seen in the 1995 feature film The Near Room.

The actor was mostly seen on television until 2003, but he soon started to make his presence felt in motion pictures such as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Last King of Scotland, and Inside I'm Dancing.

He continued to prove his versatility by playing characters in critically acclaimed titles such as Split, Atonement, and X-Men: First Class, among others.

For his adroit performance in Filth, McAvoy won Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards.

Pedro Pascal was first seen in an episode of the television series Good vs Evil in 1999.

The actor was seen playing a part in several television shows before gaining recognition for his character projection of Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.

He found further fame after playing a significant role in shows and movies such as Narcos, The Mandalorian, The Equalizer 2, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Wonder Woman 1984, to mention a few.

Tom Hardy has been acting since he first appeared on the television show Band of Brothers in 2001.

A recipient of the BAFTA Rising Star Award, he's got to be among the most underrated mainstream actors of his generation.

The phenomenal star has made his striking presence felt in feature films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Dunkirk, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, The Revenant, and The Drop, to mention a few.

He can also be seen playing a significant role in the popular gangster drama series Peaky Blinders.

Ryan Rodney Reynolds has spent well over 30 years as a mainstream screen performer. He made his acting debut on the television show Fifteen in 1991.

The actor has received a Critics' Choice Movie Award, three People's Choice Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, respectively.

Even though Reynolds was always a known actor, his several appearances as the titular character in the Deadpool film franchise ensured that he turned out to be one of the top-grossing entertainers of the 21st century.

The charming film star was awarded a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his philanthropic work and contribution to cultural life in Canada. 

His home province has also appointed him to the Order of British Columbia in 2023. That said, fans can't wait to see him reprise his role as the daring Deadpool in the next instalment of the franchise.

John Burke Krasinski may well be one of the better know actors today but he kicked off his cinematic journey by playing an uncredited character in the motion picture State and Main in 2000.

The actor first gained fame after playing the sweet and goofy Jim Halpert in the immensely popular NBC sitcom The Office.

He has since then made his presence felt in titles such as 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Promised Land, and The Hollars.

Krasinski earned critical acclaim for having co-written, directed, and starred in the critically and commercially successful A Quiet Place series of films.

Joel Edgerton is an Australian actor and filmmaker who was first seen in a couple of episodes of the television show Spellbinder in 1995.

He is known to have featured in motion pictures and shows such as Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, The Great Gatsby, Black Mass, Red Sparrow, Loving, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, to mention a few.

Joel received deserving acclaim for directing critically acclaimed flicks such as The Gift and Boy Erased.

Chris Pratt was first seen in an episode of the television series The Huntress in 2001.

The actor gained recognition after having played a key role in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. For his performance in the show, Pratt was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2013.

He can be seen in motion pictures such as Wanted, Her, Moneyball, Zero Dark Thirty, and the Jurassic World franchise of films.

The tall and talented Alexander Skarsgård made his debut as a child actor in the 1984 feature film Åke and His World.

After serving in the Swedish military, he returned to acting by playing a role in Zoolander.

He made his breakthrough by acting in the television series True Blood and has since then been a part of films and shows such as Melancholia, The Legend of Tarzan, The Northman, Godzilla vs. Kong, Big Little Lies, and The Stand, among others.

Channing Matthew Tatum made his acting debut by first appearing in an episode of the television series CSI: Miami in 2004.

After his film debut came in the drama movie Coach Carter, the good-looking actor bagged his breakout role in the 2006 feature Step Up.

Included on the list of one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022 by Time magazine, he can be seen in movies such as Foxcatcher, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Hateful Eight, White House Down, Logan Lucky, and The Lost City.

Chris Hemsworth was first seen playing a role on the television show Guinevere Jones. He shot to fame after portraying Kim Hyde in the Australian television series Home and Away.

Best known for playing Thor in The Avengers and Thor series of blockbuster feature films, he is among the highest-paid movie stars in the world today.

Aside from the aforementioned film franchises, the popular Australian actor can also be seen in motion pictures such as Star Trek, Men in Black: International, Rush, The Cabin in the Woods, Extraction, and A Perfect Getaway, among others.

The actor was seen reprising his role as Thor in the latest instalment of the series, titled Thor: Love and Thunder. The film opened to mixed reviews at the ticket counters.

Hemsworth was also seen reprising his role as Tyler Rake for Netflix in the second instalment of the Extraction franchise. The film opened to fairly decent reviews for an out-and-out action project.

Michael Anthony Peña is a supremely talented and successful screen performer who was first seen in the feature film Running Free in 1994.

The actor made a name for himself after starring in titles such as End of Watch, Crash, American Hustle, Collateral Beauty, Fury, and Ant-Man and the Wasp, to mention a few.

For his character play in End of Watch, Peña was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.

Tom Hiddleston has been a recipient of a Golden Globe Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.

He shot to fame after having played the character of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects such as Thor, Thor: Ragnarok, and Loki.

The actor can also be seen playing a part in feature films such as Kong: Skull Island, Midnight in Paris, and Unrelated, among others.

Andy Samberg is not only an actor but also a competent comedian, musician, producer, and writer. He made his acting debut on the television series The 'Bu and was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2012.

He has featured in movies such as Palm Springs, Hot Rod, and That's My Boy, to name a few.

For his performance in the police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Samberg won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2013.

The talented Kevin Darnell Hart won several stand-up comedy competitions before making it big in the film industry.

The actor was first seen in the television project North Hollywood. He went on to gain recognition after having portrayed a character in a show called Undeclared.

He can be seen utilizing his impeccable coming timing in feature films such as Little Fockers, Night School, Central Intelligence, Get Hard, and the very popular Jumanji franchise.

Anthony Dwane Mackie made his professional acting debut in the semi-biographical drama feature 8 Mile. He was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor for his praiseworthy performance in the LGBT drama Brother to Brother.

The actor continued to make his presence felt by playing a key role in feature films such as Million Dollar Baby, The Manchurian Candidate, The Hurt Locker, and Real Steel, to name a few.

He found global recognition after having played a prominent character in humungous blockbusters such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

Jonah Hill Feldstein was first seen making his undeniable presence felt in the 2004 feature film I Heart Huckabees. The actor, filmmaker, and comedian shot to fame after having played a critical role in popular motion pictures such as Superbad, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Sitter, 21 Jump Street, This Is the End, 22 Jump Street, War Dogs, Moneyball, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

His performance in The Wolf of Wall Street earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Jason Jordan Segel was first seen playing a character in the 1998 feature film Can't Hardly Wait. He is best known for his role as Marshall Eriksen in the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

Aside from being a believable screen performer, the Bad Teacher star is also an actor, comedian, screenwriter, singer-songwriter, author, and producer.

Segel can be seen in famous motion pictures such as Windfall, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Jeff, Who Lives at Home, and Sex Tape, to mention a few.

He gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of a psychiatrist in the amazing Apple TV+ show Shrinking.

The charming Chris Pine was first seen playing a minor role on the television series ER in 2003. He made his feature film debut as Lord Devereaux in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

After having appeared in episodes of shows such as The Guardian and CSI: Miami in his debut year itself, the actor started his transition to the movies.

Soon after, he was seen in feature films such as Hell or High Water, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Wonder Woman, and the Star Trek reboot series.

Tobey Maguire was first seen playing an uncredited role in the 1989 feature film The Wizard.

The actor is credited with making the childhoods of millions of adults worldwide memorable with his stupendous character projection in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

A recipient of two Saturn Awards, he can also be seen in entertainers such as The Great Gatsby, Pleasantville, Ride with the Devil, The Cider House Rules, Wonder Boys, and Seabiscuit, among others.

Chris Evans made his mainstream acting debut in the television series Opposite Sex in 2000.

The actor is known to have played a character in quite a few teen movies. He gained recognition after playing the role of the Marvel Comics character the Human Torch in Fantastic Four.

Furthermore, he shot to international fame after having appeared as the beloved Steve Rogers/Captain America in several Marvel Cinematic Universe feature films.

The actor can also be seen in acclaimed projects such as Snowpiercer, Gifted, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, among others.

Edward Parker Helms, popularly known as Ed Helms within the cinematic universe, is an actor, comedian, singer, writer, and producer.

First seen on the television show The Daily Show, the actor rose to prominence after playing the role of paper salesman Andy Bernard in the outstanding NBC sitcom The Office.

He found further fame after playing one of the three main leads in the renowned The Hangover trilogy of motion pictures.

Ashton Kutcher, who was first seen in the feature film Coming Soon, has been a recipient of a People's Choice Award.

He gained recognition after having played the role of Michael Kelso in the much-loved sitcom That '70s Show.

Kutcher is also known to have played a role in motion pictures such as The Butterfly Effect, Guess Who, A Lot Like Love, What Happens in Vegas, and No Strings Attached, to mention a few.

Sebastian Stan gained recognition for playing the character of Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies such as Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

He reprised the role in the miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. For his adroit performance in the show Political Animals, the actor received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries.

Stan can also be seen in acclaimed movies such as The Martian and I, Tonya.

Henry Cavill has been active as a mainstream performer since his debut in 2001. Known for his portrayal of Charles Brandon in Showtime's The Tudors, the actor shot to fame after playing the beloved superhero Superman in the DC Extended Universe.

Aside from the aforementioned projects, he can also be seen making his dynamic presence felt in motion pictures such as The Count of Monte Cristo, Enola Holmes, The Man from U. N. C. L. E., and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, among others.

Justin Jacob Long is an actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter who first gained recognition after having appeared in movies such as Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball, and Accepted.

Also seen playing a key role in the television series Ed, the actor is known for his boyish charm, friendly smile, and thick eyebrows.

Long has made his presence felt in motion pictures such as Live Free or Die Hard, Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie, Drag Me to Hell, and He's Just Not That Into You, to name a few.

Jason Momoa burst onto the mainstream after having played a character in the popular show Baywatch in 1999.

Also known for playing a key role in shows such as Stargate Atlantis, Game of Thrones, and See, the actor gained prominence after playing the character of Arthur Curry/Aquaman in the Aquaman series of motion pictures.

Momoa was also seen playing a character in the 2021 film adaptation of the science fiction novel Dune. He served as the main villain in 2023's Fast X as well.

Luke George Evans began his career on stage and made his professional acting debut in the film Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll in 2010.

After making his film breakthrough in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans, he was seen playing a part in motion pictures such as Immortals, The Raven, and the re-imagined The Three Musketeers.

One can also find Evans playing a prominent role in popular projects such as Fast & Furious 6, The Hobbit, Dracula Untold, and Beauty and the Beast, to mention a few.