# Which Over-40 Actress Is Prettier Than Michelle Pfeiffer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122 "2007-07-17T13:44:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/1 "2007-07-17T13:44:44Z")
[Michelle Pfeiffer](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000201/) will turn 50 next April. She was on Letterman last night. On seeing her there, my wife said, “My sister doesn’t think Michelle is pretty. What do you think?” I gave it some thought and tried to decide who in that age group (40 and up) would compete with Michelle in the looks department. A few I can name who would make my list would be: Kim Basinger Susan Sarandon Demi Moore Juliette Binoche Julianne Moore I tried to run a mental list of leading lady types who have played opposite the leading men in that same age group (people like Eastwood, Redford, Connery, Gere, Ford, etc.) and eventually decided to turn the question over to this crowd. Only real rule here is she must be over 40 (born before July, 1967). Other than that, name somebody you consider more physically attractive than Michelle Pfeiffer. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/2 "2007-07-17T13:49:50Z")
[Heather Locklear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_locklear) , who will be 50 in four years! ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/3 "2007-07-17T13:54:53Z")
[Monica Bellucci](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000899/) and [Salma Hayek](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000161/) make me fan myself dramatically, and are FAR hotter than any of the nameless horde of malnourished teen/early 20’s starlets. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/4 "2007-07-17T13:57:53Z")
[QUOTE=Dante] [Monica Bellucci](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000899/) and [Salma Hayek](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000161/) make me fan myself dramatically, and are FAR hotter than any of the nameless horde of malnourished teen/early 20’s starlets. [/QUOTE] I forgot that Salma passed the 40 mark. A nearly perfect female in the looks arena. In a separate class. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/5 "2007-07-17T13:59:08Z")
I think that[Helen Hunt](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/5321/HelenHunt_Grani_11184919_400.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0308055&seq=6) is as attractive as Pfeiffer, but I don’t know about more. Helena Bonham Carter was born in '66, and she’s [gorgeous](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0373889/HP0070.jpg.html?path=gallery&path_key=0373889&seq=14). Of course, there’s always [Pam](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000097/), if your tastes run that way. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/6 "2007-07-17T14:03:09Z")
[Madeline Stowe](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000656/) tops my list, with [Juliette Binoche](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000300/) close behind. I was going to say [Julia Roberts](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000210/), but I see that she doesn’t turn 40 until October. I find all three of those women more attractive than Michelle Pfeiffer. Just personal taste. ETA: Wait, wait. Changing my answer to [Sandra Bullock](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000113/)! Delectable! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/7 "2007-07-17T14:07:06Z")
Julianne Moore beats her in my book (plus she’s had waaay less surgery). ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/8 "2007-07-17T14:09:50Z")
Halle Berry. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/9 "2007-07-17T14:10:48Z")
[Turning 48 next month: Rebecca de Mornay](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000360/) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/10 "2007-07-17T14:14:16Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] Halle Berry. [/QUOTE] [No contest](http://www.esquire.com/women/women-we-love/halleberry0507) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/11 "2007-07-17T14:17:40Z")
Popping back in to add [Elisabeth Shue](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000223/) to my list. Better than Michelle. ---
**Author:** ![Flea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d78d45/32.png) [@Flea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flea)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/12 "2007-07-17T14:19:28Z")
For all that she’s insane, Sharon Stone is just as attractive. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/13 "2007-07-17T14:21:35Z")
I think Michelle Pfeiffer is beautiful, and echo Halle Berry, Julianne Moore and Madeleine Stowe. Maria Bello turned 40 in April is she is also very pretty. (It was a shock to see that July 1967 is the cutoff. It means I’ll be 40 next year. Eek.) ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/14 "2007-07-17T14:25:08Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Diane Lane. Voted one of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People in the World” (2003). I’ve been watching her since she played school girl Sherri ‘Cherry’ Valance in The Outsiders, and I personally think she get better looking as she ages. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/15 "2007-07-17T14:34:26Z")
Oh, yeah, Diane Lane certainly. Kyra Sedgwick too. This is tough, though. Pretty and beautiful are two different things, and I know my choices are colored by my own preferences. Michelle Pfeiffer is right up there but I would choose Madeliene Stowe if I could look like anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/16 "2007-07-17T14:47:05Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Oh, yeah, Diane Lane certainly. Kyra Sedgwick too. This is tough, though. Pretty and beautiful are two different things, and I know my choices are colored by my own preferences. Michelle Pfeiffer is right up there but I would choose Madeliene Stowe if I could look like anyone. [/QUOTE] This is very true. As often as not, I’ll be unable to decide on “physical beauty” because of some hitch in my own tastes that takes other things into account like: Voice Offscreen behavior Dependence on clothes or makeup or accessories Associations with others I like or dislike Sense of humor Acting ability As an example, when I try to let my eyes be the sole judges of beauty, I tend to see Sandra Bullock as a notch or two up from where I would rate her compared to others based on “external factors” like those above. I’m afraid a rating based on looks alone would differ substantially from one after I had seen them in movies or on TV or as guests on some talk show. I personally think Patricia Arquette is quite attractive but there are many things that keep her from being beautiful. I suppose my all-time standard for beauty is Elizabeth Taylor, but she hasn’t aged as well as others in her age bracket. People younger than 40 probably can’t see Liz in that same way. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/17 "2007-07-17T14:47:07Z")
I’ve always had a thing for Jane Seymour, who turned 56 earlier this year. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/18 "2007-07-17T14:48:06Z")
Hmm, no mention of Meg Ryan yet? She’s around 46. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/19 "2007-07-17T14:49:18Z")
Debrah Farentino is 48 and is completely mesmerizing in Eureka. Seriously…jaw hanging on floor mesmerizing. I swear, her level of hotness doubles or triples every 10 years older she gets. At this rate, by the time she turns 58 she’ll combust, taking half of North America with her. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122/20 "2007-07-17T14:53:48Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] Hmm, no mention of Meg Ryan yet? She’s around 46. [/QUOTE] Bad plastic surgery has taken her out of contention. Specifically, goofy-looking [fish lips](http://www.babak.ca/portfolio/Meg%20Ryan.jpg). [Before and after.](http://literature.sdsu.edu/nericcio/1megr.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-over-40-actress-is-prettier-than-michelle-pfeiffer/412122.md?page=2)