Madonna, Liz Taylor and other legendary stars when they were 40 years old

If there is one truth in the world, it is this: time passes inexorably for everyone. Yet, if we think of the world of entertainment, this truth does not seem to be so absolute. If there are celebrities who always seem to us to be 30 years old, there are others who we can only remember as a more 'mature' person.

Here is a 40-year-old Madonna in 1998 upon arrival at the Oscars ceremony.

Let's have a look at some of the world's biggest stars and see how they were in their 40s. Some, perhaps, you will struggle to remember, while for others, it will seem that time has never passed.

In the picture Helen Mirren in 1985, at the Berlin Festival.

This is Meryl Streep in 1989, arriving at the Golden Globes ceremony.

This is the charming Sophia Loren at 40, in 1974, next to Richard Burton, 49 years old at the time.

The number 40 for Elizabeth Taylor, at the time the wife of Richard Burton himself, had arrived two years earlier, in 1972.

A 40-year-old Harrison Ford, in 1982, on the set of Blade Runner.

In 2004, Sandra Bullock was 40 years old. Incredible right?

Paul Rudd is also 40 in this photo. It was taken in 2009, but it could have been taken the day before yesterday, don't you think?

Clint Eastwood in 1970, on the set of 'Two Mules for Sister Sara.'

Here is the talented Helen Mirren at 40, in 1985.

Here is Al Pacino at 40, in 1980, together with Robert De Niro, 37 at the time.

Former US President Barack Obama in 2002.

Maggie Smith was immortalized in this shot from 1974. The British actress had just entered 40.

Joan Collins in 1973, aged 40, together with colleague Anton Rodgers.

This is how Jennifer Aniston appeared at the age of 40, in 2009, posing at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in the company of John Mayer, her partner at the time.

Then-businessman Donald Trump, in 1986 with Ivana Trump upon arrival at the Met Gala.

Robert De Niro at 40 during the presentation of Martin Scorsese's film 'The King of Comedy' in 1983.

It was in 1994 that Denzel Washington blew out the 40 candles. Here we see him in a scene from the movie 'Philadelphia' together with Tom Hanks, who was 38 at the time.

The late Angela Lansbury, who passed away in October 2022, was portrayed in this 1965 photo when she was 40 years old.

Keanu Reeves at 40, in 2004.

A handsome Paul Newman around 1965.

The beautiful supermodel arriving at the Cannes Film Festival in a shot from 2010.

Cher was 40 when she wore this legendary look. It was 1986.

Dolly Parton was also 40 in 1986.

The immense and unforgettable Betty White in a photo taken in 1962, when she was 40 years old.

Sir Ian McKellen in a 1979 photo, when he was 40 (but he didn't look it).

Idris Elba turned 40 in 2012 and celebrated it with a Golden Globe for his performance in 'Luther'.

The great Anthony Hopkins was immortalized in this picture in his 40s in 1977.

The French actor in 1988.

The real Mission Impossible for Tom Cruise seems to be getting older: here he is at 40, in 2002.

The late Gina Lollobrigida, beautiful at 40 in this photo from 1968.

In this shot, we see Julio Iglesias in 1983 during an interview on 'The Tonight Show' starring Johnny Carson. The singer was 40 at the time.

This photo was also taken in 1983: the splendid Catherine Deneuve was 40 years old and was in the company of Yves St. Laurent.

Here is Jared Leto, in 2011, at the age of 40, receiving the GQ Man of the Year award in Berlin.

A photo of Raffaella Carrà at 40, in 1983.

The talented Spanish actress and muse of Almodovar in 2014.

This is how the legendary Carmen Miranda looked in 1949 when she was 40 years old.

And here is a 40-year-old Jim Carrey, in 2002.

We close on a high note with former supermodel Heidi Klum who turned 40 in 2013.