25 Stars Then vs. Now: The Glow-Ups and Plot Twists You’ve Gotta See

Kate shot to megastardom as Rose in Titanic back in ’97. Instead of chasing blockbuster fame, she went indie, showing off all kinds of cool and quirky roles. She finally snagged an Oscar for The Reader and grabbed Emmys for TV hits like Mildred Pierce and Mare of Easttown. Age 50 and rocking it, she proves you can be a legend and still keep it fresh.

Zac charmed us all as Troy Bolton in High School Musical. Then came a wild ride with roles from Olympic heroes to serial killers. After a gnarly fall in 2013 shattered his jaw, Zac’s face got a bit of an unexpected makeover. Rumors flew about plastic surgery, but nope - just the magic of recovery and muscles working overtime. That’s one star who’s bounced back like a champ!

From the adorable twins in The Parent Trap to queen of teen movies, Lindsay’s been through it all. She switched up her fiery red hair for blonde, tried new looks, faced ups and downs, but ultimately bounced back strong. Now in her late 30s, Lindsay is making moves with new shows and acting gigs. Hollywood’s wild child, grown up and stealing the spotlight again!

Linda was one of the cool kids in the “Big 5” supermodel club. But in 2021, she shocked the world by sharing how a botched fat-freezing treatment left her looking totally different. No runway glam for a while - just a tough story about resilience and dealing with unexpected changes. Talk about a plot twist in model land!

Leo’s been playing cool since the ’80s. He almost changed his name to “Lenny Williams” (thank goodness he didn’t!). He made waves with What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and of course, blasted off with Titanic. But Leo kept switching genres like a pro and finally bagged his Oscar for The Revenant. Still got that sparkle at 51!

Found chillin’ on a Colombian beach as a teen, Sofía quickly became the Latin superstar we adore. She upped sticks to Miami, nailed it on Modern Family, and kept cashing in with movies and TV. At 53, she’s now the first Latina nominated for an Emmy in a lead role. Talk about living the dream!

Christina went from Disney hopeful to shaker of the music world real quick. She even sang for Mulan! Nowadays, at 44, she’s all about self-love and wrinkles? Meh. She’s cool with a little help from fillers because, hey, aging is just part of the fun. Lady Marmalade vibes forever!

Remember Ferris Bueller? Yep, that’s Matthew! Now in his 60s, he swapped the mop-top for the wise guy look but still keeps acting strong. He’s tackled everything from drama to Netflix hits and admits, 40 years in, he’s still figuring out the secret. Spoiler: it’s probably just being awesome.

Jessica burst onto the scene with two million-selling jams and reality fame by her side. Fast forward more than two decades, and she stunned everyone at the 2025 VMAs with a fresh, wrinkle-free face. She’s back with new tunes and movies proving she’s still got it.

Started acting at 5, made a name with Chaplin, then became everyone’s favorite Iron Man. His flicks have raked in billions, and his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer proves he’s more than just suits and tech - he’s acting royalty at 60.

Mandy stole hearts in A Walk to Remember and later killed it as Rebecca in This Is Us. At 41, she’s still capturing the spotlight, and those cheekbones? Totally twinkling with rumored new looks rocking the awards nights.

Hugh almost quit acting before landing Four Weddings and a Funeral, which exploded his career. With a mix of rom-com charm and thriller edges, Hugh’s still stealing scenes at 65. Best movie ever? He swears it’s Paddington 2. We can’t argue!

Henry went from a dashing Duke on The Tudors to the Man of Steel himself. Add in monster hunting on The Witcher and you’ve got a cool British actor who's basically a walking action movie fan’s dream.

Salma went from Mexican soap operas to stealing the spotlight in Desperado and becoming the first Mexican actress Oscar-nommed for playing Frida Kahlo. Now 59, she stars in blockbusters and even plays herself in a wild Black Mirror episode. Talk about range!

From NYPD Blue to CSI: Miami, David played the detective we all secretly envied. Now retired from acting and rocking long, red hair, he’s a totally different dude living a chill life. Who knew Lieutenant Caine had such a makeover?

Jonah’s always been hilarious, but his weight journey surprised many. After calling up Channing Tatum for advice (yes, really!), he shed pounds and stunned fans. Now he’s showing off a whole new look with killer roles. Talk about major glow-up vibes!

Before Bad Bunny and the crew, Ricky was ruling Latin pop with hits like Livin' la Vida Loca. Starting out with Menudo, he exploded worldwide and kept dropping hits that had everyone dancing. Now 53, he’s still touring and making us move. Gracias, Ricky!

Kristen went from vampire Bella to artsy indie fave in a flash. After Twilight, she took on bold roles, even snagging an Oscar nod for playing Princess Diana. She’s now trying her hand behind the camera as a director, showing she’s got skills on both sides of the lens!

Rumer, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, started acting young, sharing screens with her mom. From teen shows to Broadway, she’s carved out a cool path all her own. Whether it’s TV drama or musicals, Rumer’s got range and style to spare.

Britney started young on Mickey Mouse Club, then exploded with super iconic hits like ...Baby One More Time. Despite some rocky stuff behind the scenes, she fought back and continues to be the pop princess we love. Still a legend at 42!

Ben hit it big with Good Will Hunting and went on to become an action star and Oscar-winning director. He’s done it all - from blockbusters to indie flicks - and still keeps us guessing. Plus, he runs a production company with Matt Damon - talk about a power duo!

Taylor started out strumming a guitar and crooning country tunes, then went full pop superstar with a flurry of hits. After 14 Grammys and countless sold-out shows, she’s basically owned the music game at 35. Oh, and she’s constantly rewriting her story - literally!

Amanda made us laugh on Nickelodeon and had a blast acting in movies. After stepping back to focus on her health and style studies, she’s now dropped a fashion line. From kid star to fashionista, Amanda’s journey is all about reinvention.

Mickey was Hollywood’s tough guy in the ’80s, then shocked everyone by becoming a pro boxer. After some ups and downs, he bounced back with roles in Sin City and The Wrestler. His wild ride even included a reality show exit for some eyebrow-raising moments. Born to keep people guessing!

Cristiano’s got more trophies than most people have pairs of shoes. Starting in Portugal, moving through the big leagues, and smashing records and goals forever, CR7 keeps proving he’s the GOAT at 40. Seriously, the guy’s like a soccer robot!