22 Famous Actresses in Their 30s – Next Luxury

We’ve looked at incredible up-and-coming actresses in their 20s and those with solid careers in their 40s, so it’s about time we give the 30 years olds some love. Tinseltown is chock full of famous actresses in their 30s who are starring in award-winning movies while making bank. These amazing women have often been through the trials and tribulations associated with younger actresses and are now well established, competing with each other for the next role in a Martin Scorcese gangster picture, a Greta Gerwig drama, or Christopher Nolan mindfuck. 

It used to be women like Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Kim Tae Hee, and Kerry Washington that dominated this category, but now it’s the likes of Scarlett Johanson and Jennifer Lawrence that are making big moves as actresses in their 30s. To celebrate the diverse nature of these actresses and shine a light on those we think have solidified themselves as Hollywood royalty, here is a look at our favorite actresses in their 30s who are out there getting it done. 

22 Famous Actresses in Their 30s

1. Scarlett Johansson

One of the most beautiful actresses in the world has been ever present on our screens for almost three decades. The American actress got her start in the fantasy comedy North in 1994. She had several more roles in various movies throughout the 90s before finally breaking through in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, starring alongside the great Bill Murray. 

After that film’s release, Johansson fast became one of the most in-demand actresses in Hollywood, featuring in the critically acclaimed Girl with a Pearl Earring, three Woody Allen movies ( Match Point, Scoop, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona), and on Broadway in the play A View From the Bridge. She’s also played Black Widow in nine Marvel movies and is recognized as the highest-grossing box office star of all time, with her movies raking in an impressive $14.3 billion worldwide. 

2. Jennifer Lawrence

With an Academy Award (Best Actress for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook), three Golden Globe Awards (Best Actress – Comedy or Musical for Silver Linings Playbook and Joy, and Best Supporting Actress for American Hustle), and a BAFTA Award (Best Actress in a Supporting Role for American Hustle), it’s safe to say Jennifer Lawrence is kicking ass as a woman in her 30s.

The star of the Hunger Games franchise and X-Men series hasn’t been as prolific since the pandemic, concentrating on raising her two children in New York. That said, Lawrence is in this year’s Causeway and will next be seen in coming of age comedy No Hard Feelings 

3. Margot Robbie

Australia is responsible for some great acting talent, and Margot Robbie is no exception. The blonde heartbreaker has only been acting for just over a decade but has already put in some incredible performances. The former Neighbours star broke out with her role in The Wolf of Wall Street and has since gone on to star as Harley Quinn in several DC movies.

Robbie seems to have a fascination with playing real-life characters, having acted as Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Queen Elizabeth I in the period drama Mary Queen of Scots, and ice skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Robbie also runs a successful production company with her husband, LuckyChap Entertainment, that has produced the movie Promising Young Woman and the TV show Dollface.

4. Emma Stone

It feels like Emma Stone has been acting much longer than she has. The redhead began acting as a child, starring in several theatre productions before getting work in television. It wasn’t until her debut movie in 2007, Superbad, that Stone got noticed by the wider public. The teen sex comedy led to roles in hits Zombieland, Easy A, and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

While Aloha was a misstep, the majority of Stone’s work is exemplary, with movies such as The Help, La La Land, and Cruella earning her critical praise. Stone currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter and is one of the few celebrities who shuns the spotlight, preferring to live life as normally as possible.

5.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson makes history everywhere she goes. The American actress is the youngest person ever admitted to the American Conservatory Theater at age six. This was obviously the right choice as Larson is now one of Hollywood’s best actresses, having won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe for her role in the critically acclaimed drama Room. 

Larson has starred in an assortment of films over her journey thus far, with some of the highlights including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Spectacular Now, 21 Jump Street, Just Mercy, and Captain Marvel. She’s also been announced as the latest star to join the Fast and Furious franchise, which is a pretty big deal. 

6. Emily Blunt

The first British actress on this list is a talented woman who has has a career resurgence thanks to horror movies A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place II. While already a big star, these two horror movies (directed by her husband John Krasinski of The Office fame) have taken her to another level of stardom. 

Blunt made her acting debut in a stage production of The Royal Family in 2001. She appeared in several British movies and TV shows before gaining recognition in America for her role as Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada. Some of her biggest hits include science fiction flicks Looper and Edge of Tomorrow, cartel drama Sicario, and Disney action-adventure movie Jungle Cruise. 

7. Dakota Johnson

When your dad is Don Johnson and your mom is Melanie Griffith, acting is in the veins. Not only has Dakota Johnson followed in the footsteps of her famous parents, but she is outshining them with her on-screen performances.

Sure, the 50 Shades saga isn’t great, but Johnson did what she could with the material. If you want proof of her talent there is a long list of movies you can watch, including The Social Network, The Peanut Butter Falcon, and The Lost Daughter. 

The partner of Chris Martin from Coldplay, Johnson has helped write and direct a couple of the band’s film clips and is also an investor and co-creative director of the sexual wellness brand Maude.

8. Gal Gadot

Hands down one of the most attractive women in the world, Gal Gadot has had some life. At 18 she was crowned Miss Israel 2004, prompting her to take up modeling. She also did her two years of mandatory service for the Israel Defense Forces where she was a combat fitness instructor.

She then turned her attention to the movies, narrowly missing out on a part in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. The casting director of that movie liked what they saw and managed to get Gadot an audition for Fast & Furious, which became her feature film debut. 

13 years later and Gadot is now one of the most in-demand actresses working in Hollywood. She starred in two more Fast and Furious movies, got a small role in the heist thriller Triple 9, collaborated with Ryan Reynolds and The Rock on Netflix actioner Red Notice, and got cast as Wonder Woman, who she has played in four movies. 

9.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightly is another Brit who has managed to find success across the pond. Breaking out in the coming-of-age sports comedy Bend It Like Beckham, Knightly’s career has been interesting, to say the least. She seems to enjoy making small independent films as much as blockbusters and has featured in some unusual movies. For every Love Actually and Pirates of the Caribbean, there is a Domino or Never Let Me Go. 

Whatever the film, the actress always impresses, with Knightly also having won several high-profile awards during her time in the business. While she likes to keep her personal life away from the press, Knightly has revealed that she suffered a breakdown in her early 20s as she was unable to cope with the price of fame at such a young age. Thankfully all is well now and she continues to wow with her performances.

10.

Emilia Clarke

Game of Thrones changed the lives of many actors and actresses. Emilia Clarke has certainly benefited from her time on the show, with the English rose now a major Hollywood player. Before GOT she performed in several theatre productions, landing a small role on the soap opera Doctors. A couple of short films and another TV cameo later and Clarke found herself cast as Daenerys Targaryen in GOT.

Although the show did her character wrong in the end, it became such a pop culture phenomenon that Clarke was soon fielding offers left and right. She landed plum roles in Dom Hemingway, Terminator Genisys, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. The pandemic put a halt on her career but Clarke has several projects in the pipeline that should be arriving soon. 

11. Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff is one of those lucky people who managed to have a fantastic career as a child and teenager and continue that success into adulthood. The Lizzie McGuire TV show made her a teen star and led to Duff releasing several pop albums and touring the globe. In between making music she kept acting, starring in mainly teenage comedies and coming-of-age movies. 

Her most recent success has come in the form of the TV series Younger, described as a female version of Entourage, and How I Met Your Father, where Duff plays the main character telling her kids how she met their father. 

See more about – 28 Famous Actresses In Their 20s

12. Anna Kendrick

After finding fame with her role as Jessica Stanley in the Twilight Saga, Anna Kendrick has done pretty well for herself. The former theatre performer has the hit franchise Pitch Perfect under her belt along with feature roles in the comic book adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the action film The Accountant, and the animated franchise Trolls. 

Kendrick also has a pretty good voice and has sung in several movies and contributed songs to the soundtracks. She even released a single from the Pitch Perfect soundtrack, “Cups,” which reached the sixth spot on the Billboard Charts. 

13. Megan Fox

Her acting career is currently being overshadowed by her weird relationship with musician Machine Gun Kelly, but Megan Fox is still one of our picks for the best actresses in their 30s. Daytime soap Ocean Ave. gave her a start, Transformers turned her into a star, and Jennifer’s Body, while not well received, solidified Fox as a superstar. 

Fox has made some interesting choices thus far, playing April O’Neil in two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, taking on a man-eating lioness in Rouge, and finding herself handcuffed to a dead body in Till Death. While many only concentrates on her looks, Fox has shown she’s a talented actress whose star continues to shine. 

14.

Anne Hathaway

Scraping in at the age of 39, Anne Hathaway is up there with the best of the best. Although she suffered a period of hate during the mid-00s – that has been labeled Hathahate – the New York-born actress is now critically revered by those in the entertainment industry, with moviegoers also changing their tune about Hathaway. 

When you look at her filmography, it’s hard to know where to start. It is chock full of blockbusters, entertaining dramas, and all-around awesome films. Some of the top picks include The Devil Wears Prada, Brokeback Mountain, Les Misérables, Interstellar, Ocean’s 8, and Locked Down. A true professional who always nails it. 

15. Emma Watson 

Playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise turned Emma Watson into a superstar whether she like it or not. Not one to crave the limelight, Watson has had a very low-key career since the last Harry Potter film was released in 2011. She’s only appeared in ten films this past decade, with her last role coming in 2019s Little Woman.

It’s not like she isn’t keeping busy though, with Watson involved in sustainable fashion and many different charities. She’s also an outspoken feminist who uses her platform as an actress to discuss the way women are treated, especially in the film industry. 

16. Zoë Kravitz 

Following in the footsteps of her mom, Zoë Kravitz is fast establishing herself as one to watch. Her mother, Lisa Bonet, was a massive star in the 80s and 90s but has only worked sporadically since, while her father, Lenny Kravitz, is a world-famous musician, so you can see where she gets her talent from.

Kravitz made her debut in the rom-com No Reservations in 2007 and has slowly built her career since then. On the big screen she has dazzled in the movies Dope, The Batman, Mad Max: Fury Road, and the Divergent and Fantastic Beasts franchises, while on the telly she has had big roles in TV shows Big Little Liars and High Fidelity. 

17. Lily James

Lily James seems to be everywhere at the moment. She got rave reviews for her portrayal of Pamela Anderson in the hit series Pam and Tommy and has two highly anticipated movies on the cards for 2023; What’s Love Got to Do with It? and Providence. The UK actress has only been in the industry for a decade but is being touted by many as the future of the business.

Her previous credits include Cinderella, Baby Driver, Darkest Hour, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. James also had a large role in Downton Abbey and has also performed in several theatre productions. 

18. Rooney Mara

Making her debut in Urban Legends: Bloody Mary as Classroom Girl #1 in 2005, it’s fair to say Rooney Mara has come a long way. While it did take her a few years, Mara established herself in 2010 by starring in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street and David Fincher’s The Social Network. She followed these films by starring as Lisbeth Salander in Fincher’s remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo alongside Daniel Craig. 

Mara is known for her diverse mix of projects, never playing the same types of characters twice. She often collaborates with her partner Joaquin Phoenix, with the two having acted together in Her, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, and Mary Magdalene. Her older sister Kate is also a famous actress. 

19. Evan Rachel Wood

Getting her start as a child actress in the 90s, Evan Rachel Wood has been in the business for almost three decades. She started in the hit shows American Gothic and Once and Again before the teen drama, Thirteen, took her to another level in 2003. Over the past 20 years Wood has acted in mainly indie films such as Down in the Valley, Running With Scissors, and Charlie Countryman, occasionally appearing in studio pictures like The Werstler and The Ides of March. 

She’s somewhat reinvented herself in the last couple of years on the small screen, receiving rave reviews for her performances in Mildred Pierce and Westworld. Wood has also been in the news for the allegations she made against former partner Marilyn Manson who she says abused her during their time together. She is just one of several women who have spoken out against Manson.

20. Kirsten Stewart

Forget about Twilight, there is much more to Kirsten Stewart than playing a vampire lover. Now in her early 30s, Stewart is a much more mature and astute performer who picks interesting roles that showcase her acting talents. Spencer, Crimes of the Future, and Personal Shopper all show her abilities and why she is so well-liked by her peers and fans. 

Stewart is set to write and direct her first feature film in 2023, an adaptation of writer Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir The Chronology of Water. 

21. Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan is one of those rare people who knew she wanted to act at a young age. Although her parents tried to persuade her from getting into acting, Mulligan was adamant about making it in show business. She made her theatre debut in 2004, got her first film role in 2005s Pride & Prejudice, and made her television debut in the BBC adaption of Charles Dickens’ Bleak House.

Although Mulligan’s filmography isn’t stacked, she does pick her roles well, appearing in critically acclaimed movies such as The Great Gatsby, Drive, Promising Young Woman, Shame, and Inside Llewyn Davis.

22. Tessa Thompson

The theater is where Tessa Thompson got her start. The Los Angeles native appeared in several plays before making her film debut in horror When a Stranger Calls. She got great feedback for her work in Mississippi Damned, Selma, and Dear White People, confirming she was on the right career path. Thompson officially made it when cast in blockbusters Creed and Thor: Ragnarok and is now considered one of the top stars in their 30s.

She is currently part of the Westworld TV series and will be next seen in Creed 3 and the up-and-coming drama The Listener, where she plays the only character seen on screen.

See more about – 20 Famous Actresses in Their 40s