These black actresses over 40 look better than ever!

The Root · Jun 26, 2026 13:52 · 6 min read

More Black Actresses Who Are Proving That Beauty Gets Even Better Over 40! — These Black Actresses Over 40 Look Better Than Ever!

From Nia Long to Tracee Ellis Ross and more, these are our Hollywood faves that truly age backwards!

Now that the summer is officially underway, you already know to expect Black people, especially Black women, to be out here shining and looking glam effortlessly. And unlike all the beauty ads you might see, trying to sell you on things to keep you looking youthful and fresh—we already know the secret to looking good and looking ageless lies within our melanin.

And that’s exactly why we’ve rounded up more than a handful of our fave Black Hollywood actresses over 40 who are walking examples of the phrase “Black don’t crack.” Keep reading for more!

Aja Naomi King

Just one look at Aja Naomi King’s smile and you can clearly see that she’s some sort of undercover Barbie doll, just walking in plain sight! She definitely makes looking look easy.

Erykah Badu

Even if you’re not a fan of how Erykah Badu’s sometimes eclectic style, you can’t deny her face card still looks as radiant as it did when she first burst onto the music scene over a decade ago!

Paula Patton

Paula Patton is an underrated rom-com queen, and it’s time she gets the flowers she deserves! With a face like this, any man would be lucky to have her!

Monica

Folks may affectionately call Monica, “Goonica,” but trust us—we won’t need any goons or goblins when it comes to our love for her and how timelessly elegant she looks!

Brandy Norwood

Brandy may be known as the “Vocal Bible,” but she’s also known for looking both ageless and flawless time and time again. We truly don’t know how she does it!

Sanaa Lathan

If we could trade faces for a day with anybody, it’d be a toss between Nia Long and her “Best Man” costar Sanaa Lathan. We’d be happy either way, but we’d be lying if we said it wouldn’t be a hard decision to make.

Sheryl Lee Ralph

The incomparable. The immaculate. The Diva and the Dreamgirl. Quite literally, who is doing it better than Sheryl Lee Ralph right now? We’ll tell you who—NOBODY.

Kelly Rowland

Having a timeless beauty like Kelly Rowland will be our personal “Motivation” from here on out.

Ryan Michelle Bathe

From her smile to her skin, Ryan Michelle Bathe is a thing of dreams. And that will never be up for debate.

Garcelle Beauvais

The always and forever “Fancy” Garcelle Beauvais definitely deserves a spot on this list. The woman still looks as if “The Jamie Foxx Show” just went off the air yesterday. If that’s not goals, we don’t know what is.

Bianca Lawson

Now y’all know we couldn’t make this list without including the ethereal and ageless icon, herself Bianca Lawson. (We’re still waiting on her to drop her skincare routine, too, by the way.)

Issa Rae

There’s truly nothing about Issa Rae that should make her feel insecure, especially when she’s out here looking as good as this!

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross is beauty, style, and grace personified. She’s also Black Joy in a walking, talking and breathing form – always radiating positivity from the inside out!

Lynn Whitfield

One of the industry’s most iconic actresses, Lynn Whitfield has been a beautiful, cinematic force onscreen and off for years. And she’s only getting better with time!

Viola Davis

Even though we know what it actually means, I’m thinking that the “E” in EGOT must also stand for extraordinarily beautiful because Viola Davis comes second to none – and that’s on General Nanisca.

Halle Berry

Rapper Hurricane Chris didn’t make that song about just anybody. Timeless, hilarious, and glamorous, there is truly no one like Halle Berry. (P.S., can we be Twitter friends? Just send us a heart emoji if so, so we know it’s real.)

Gabrielle Union-Wade

Black Actresses Over 40 Who Prove Black Never Cracks, In Honor of Women’s History Month — Photo: Getty Images Jon Kopaloff

If we are being completely honest, we have loved Gabrielle Union-Wade from the moment we saw her in “Bring It On.” With a smile that’ll light up any room and melanin that glimmers, what more is there really to say? We all wanna be just like you (and Kaavia, low-key) when we grow up, Gab.

Regina King

Now you know we had to include the only King we acknowledge: Regina King on a list of fabulous Black actresses over 40. From the flawless skin to her breathtaking brown eyes, the “One Night in Miami” director always shines.

Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams never ceases to remind us that beauty has no age limit!

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington, how we love thee! Your enviously high cheekbones, gorgeous skin, and amazing smile keep us breathless!

Jada Pinkett Smith

It would probably take us 40 days and 40 nights to figure out just how to be as effortlessly cool and strikingly beautiful as Jada Pinkett Smith. Maybe if we can finesse my way onto the Red Table, she’ll tell us her secrets. What do you say, Jada?

Kym Whitley

We could be wrong here, but maybe being funny is the key to aging backwards. If it is, that would explain why comedian and actress Kym Whitley seems to look better and better with each passing day.

Taraji P. Henson

We don’t know what we love more about Taraji P. Henson: her style, her smile, or her personality. We’re just gonna go with the truest answer and say “d,” all of the above.

Angela Bassett

We honestly don’t think there are enough words in the dictionary to describe how elegant, classy, dazzling, divine, and gorgeous Angela Bassett is. If we were a sponge, we’d try to soak in as much goodness as we could from her because she just has IT.

Nia Long

OK, let’s be real: We knew Black women carried this uncanny superpower of getting more fine as they aged, but we’re gonna need whatever dosage Nia Long received.

Tika Sumpter

Black Actresses Over 40 Who Prove Black Never Cracks! — Tika Sumpter attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Yes, ma’am! If you were looking for a walking, talking Black Barbie, you’ve found it in Tika Sumpter! Everything about her aura is just magnificent.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housely

Beautiful twin alert! Not only do these fabulous and fly sisters, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley, look alike, but they continue to look like the eternal springs of youth.

Nicole Ari Parker

There’s a reason why hubby Boris Kodjoe fell in love with Nicole Ari Parker so swiftly! Do you see her face? Have you seen how fun she is in interviews and on-screen? She’s got the whole package!

Michelle Buteau

We think we’ve figured out the real secret behind Michelle Buteau’s radiant look: comedy! The fact that she’s all smiles and she constantly makes other people laugh has to be making her more and more vibrant!

Regina Hall

We’ll be waiting with bated breath for Regina Hall to spill the beans on what it is that keeps her melanin popping so severely and her smile shining brighter and brighter with each passing day!

Queen Latifah

The only Queen we acknowledge ‘round here is Queen “Never Met a Silk Press She Didn’t Slay” Latifah. From her hair to her smile, may her reign never end.

Anika Noni Rose

Anika Noni Rose will forever be our Princess Tiana and one of the women we aspire to look as good as we age. She’s a 10 across the board.

Meagan Good

Be right back, we’re about to go pray that our body and spirit look as good as Meagan Good‘s does. You wanna put in the request too?

Tiffany Haddish

Not only is Tiffany Haddish serving the funny, but she’s also serving the looks. She’s stepping out looking better and better at each turn. We see you, Tiff!

Alicia Keys

What’s even more impressive about Alicia Keys, aside from her music prowess, is that she looks the same way she did when she stepped on the scene all those years ago!

Mary J. Blige

Go Mary! Go Mary! Whether it’s her skin, her smile, or her snatched waistline, Mary J. Blige proves time and time again that being grown and sexy is reserved only for the grown and sexy.

Jennifer Hudson

And we are telling you…that we will never get over the fact that Jennifer Hudson looks as beautifully ageless as she does!

Mo’Nique

Her face? Radiant. Her smile? Exuberant? Her melanin? Shining. Her waist? Non-existent. We love Mo’Nique for real, and it looks like life has been loving on her, too.