You probably know a lot of facts about your favorite celebrities. You can probably name their favorite colors, every single other celebrity they dated and what kind of underwear they prefer. One of the most basic facts that you probably know is their birthdays.
Even if you know a lot of celebrity b-days, you might not have put two and two together and considered which celebrities were born in the same year. When you do, the results may surprise you. Some stars definitely present more of a mature, worldly vibe while others who were born in the same year can seem years longer thanks to their roles and/or their baby faces.
Get ready to be surprised. Here are 18 sets of celebrities you probably didn’t realize are the same age.
18. Jared Leto and Martin Freeman
Jared Leto doesn’t age. Period. If you’re a fan, you will know that he has been in the business for decades. (Who could forget him as Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life?) Yet, we still think of him as a dude in his late 20s. His youthful appearance and model girlfriends help. Yet, he was actually born in 1971 which makes him 46 years old. That is actually the same age as Martin Freeman. The latter actor has more of a distinguished gentleman vibe thanks to his role on Sherlock as Dr. John Watson and his salt-and-pepper hair.
17. Chuck Norris and Michael Gambon
Here’s something that’s going to shock you: Chuck Norris is actually 78 years old. You’d be forgiven for thinking he’s decades younger thanks to his martial arts, youthful smile and full head of dark hair. He was born in 1940 which is the same year as Michael Gambon. The Irish actor could hardly be called frail or old, but given his role as Albus Dumbledore in the later Harry Potter films and the fact he’s officially Sir Michael John Gambon, CBE makes him seem older than Chuck.
16. Joe Manganiello and Benedict Cumberbatch
How did we not realize that these two hotties were the same age? Joe Manganiello and Benedict Cumberbatch were both born in 1976, meaning they’re 41 years old. To be fair, it could be because they have different aesthetics. Joe is the chiseled, tanned, muscled other-half of Sofia Vergara. On the other hand, Benedict is the troubled genius Sherlock Holmes with the adorable posh accent and one-of-a-kind smize.
15. Eminem and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
We might have picked up on this one given that Eminem and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have both dabbled in acting, but it’s not like they’ve starred in anything big together for us to decide to compare their statistics. Both dudes haven’t actually aged much in the last few years. They were both born in 1972, aka they both turn 46 years old this year. That fact itself will probably surprise many. We could have easily said 36 and everyone would have believed it.
14. Jennifer Lopez and Renée Zellweger
Jennifer Lopez is one celebrity who seems to have discovered the fountain of youth. Look back at photos of her from the start of her career and she really doesn’t look that different. So, it will probably shock you to find out J.Lo is 48 years old. She was born in 1969. You know who else was born that year? Renée Zellweger. Bridget Jones and Jennifer likely aren’t two people you’ve ever compared. Renée still looks youthful for almost being 50 years old, but she doesn’t have as famous of a reputation for defying the aging process. No one has the “J.Lo glow” rep, but J.Lo.
13. Paul Rudd and Matthew Perry
Paul Rudd and Matthew Perry are both funny guys who caught our attention in the 1990s, but did you know they also share a birth year? Both were born in 1969. (For those keeping track, that also makes them the same age as Jennifer Lopez and Renée Zellweger.) Paul really hasn’t aged that much since he starred in Clueless way back in 1995. Even his hairstyle is remarkably similar. Matthew has changed a bit since his days as Chandler Bing on Friends, but he has had his share of battles. Plus, lighter hair and glasses almost always come with age.
12. Kate Beckinsale and Kristen Wiig
In the summer of 1973, both Kate Beckinsale and Kristen Wiig came into the world. If you’re good at math, you will realize that means that 2018 rings in their 45th birthdays. The British beauty is another celebrity who is stamped with the “eternally ageless” description so hearing that tidbit might surprise you. The Saturday Night Live alum clearly has some good genes on her side, too, but you might not have picked up she and Kate were born a month apart, especially because Kristen’s been a well-known name in Hollywood for a much shorter time.
11. Scarlett Johansson and Avril Lavigne
Scarlett Johansson has been in showbiz for a good chunk of her life. Apart from her very early roles, she has always exuded a glamorous vintage vibe which can sometimes make people think she’s older than she is — even if she doesn’t actually look it. She was born in 1984 which makes her 33 years old. She shares her birthday year with Avril Lavigne. In contrast to the actress, Avril has a younger demeanor thanks to her Sk8r Gurl! vibe.
10. Madonna and Ellen DeGeneres
Madonna and Ellen DeGeneres are both legends in their own right who can get away with being mononymous people. Madonna has taken over the music front while Ellen is mostly in the comedy and TV talk show realm. Maybe that’s why it has never really dawned on most of us that they’re the same age. They’re both born in 1958 and will turn the big 6-0 in 2018. Dang, they both look good for their ages!
9. Sarah Hyland and Jennifer Lawrence
Yup, both Sarah Hyland and Jennifer Lawrence were born in 1990 which means they’ll both be blowing 28 candles out on their birthday cakes. The fact that they’ve taken very different roles can explain why we didn’t associate them with being the same age. Most people associate Sarah with her now-young adult role on Modern Family while J.Law has taken on various more “mature” roles from a spy to a divorced mother of two.
8. Nick Offerman and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
You can probably blame the mustache for this one. Funny man Nick Offerman is really the same age as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau aka Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones. Both men were born in 1970. The Danish actor has changed over the eight seasons of GoT but could easily pass for a decade younger. In contrast, Nick’s mustache lends him more of a distinguished gentleman vibe. Even the rare times he shaves his facial hair, he cannot get rid of the vibe. The mustache is too powerful.
7. Russell Crowe and Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe has a baby face that makes him look half of his age. We’re not lying when we say that he is 54 years old. One of his birthday year twins is actually Russell Crowe. Both actors were born in 1964. You might have thought there were a few years between them given their choice of roles. Rob’s read younger because of their lightheartness while Russell tends to go for the heavier stuff which comes across as making him older. Simple as that!
6. Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Alex Pettyfer
Remember the day when you realized that there was only five years between Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Keira Knightley in Love, Actually despite him playing a love-struck boy and she was getting hitched? Well, here’s something else that will surprise you: Thomas is the same age as Alex Pettyfer. Both were born in 1990. They have baby faces, but Alex’s role in Magic Mike single-handedly made everyone see him as a man. In contrast, Thomas is still playing teenagers. See The Maze Runner and Game of Thrones.
5. Emma Watson and Margot Robbie
Here are more 1990s babies for you. This time we’re focusing on the ladies. Margot Robbie openly admits that people think that she’s a decade older than her 28 years. In contrast, most people still associate Emma Watson with her role as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, when she was playing a teenager. Sure, she was a magical teenager, but being part of a YA franchise – no matter how popular it is – doesn’t exactly make people think you’re older. Hence, you probably didn’t realize that these two were so close in age.
4. Carly Rae Jepsen and Keira Knightley
It’s Carly Rae Jepsen‘s upbeat music and funky style that make many think she’s a teenager. It turns out she’s 32 years old. She was born in 1985. That’s actually the same year as Keira Knightley. Keira really hasn’t changed much since her early roles apart from a few hair makeovers, but she has a more mature vibe thanks to her penchant for picking historical film roles.
3. Theo James and Prince Harry
What do you think of when you think of Theo James – apart from a gorgeous chiseled jaw? You probably think of his role as Tobias Eaton in the Divergent series. It gives him a youthful vibe, but he’s actually older than you think. He was born in 1984, which makes him 33 years old. That’s the same age as Prince Harry. You might have though the prince was a decade or so older given all of his duties, tours and that wedding. But nope!
2. Pharrell Williams and James Marsden
Pharrell is one of the guys who proves it’s not only women who are immune to aging. There really is no difference to his appearance throughout the years save for different styling touches. Did you know that he was born in 1973? It’s the same year James Marsden was born. The Westworld actor definitely doesn’t look like he is turning 45 either, yet it’s surprising to hear both men are the same age.
1. Michael Cera and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
Think of Michael Cera, and you likely think of his role in Juno or his part on the early seasons of Arrested Development. It’s probably still hard for you to see him grown up in the Netflix reboot, even if he does still look pretty young. So here’s something to shock you: He’s the same age as Hafþór Júlíus “Thor” Björnsson, aka the world’s strongest man and The Mountain on Game of Thrones. Both were born in 1988 and will be turning 3-0 this year. Want to have your mind blown again? Hafþór is only two years older than fellow GoT actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Boom.