First of all, let me preface this list by noting that even though these ladies are collectively over 700-years-old, I'd still be honored to be showered with geriatric love from each and every one of them, because I'm an equal opportunity lover. Secondly, let me say that this list was easy, because
most people age, and when they do, they invariably become less hot. Given my first sentiment, you can be sure I'm not talking about personal taste; only the headline-fed, societally agreed-upon definition of hot, which generally ends well before wrinkles begin.
Sally Field
Sally has been looked upon in a less sexy light ever since she played mom to Forrest Gump (even though she's only 10 years older than Tom Hanks). Aunt May and Mary Todd Lincoln probably didn't get her a lot of swipes right, either. But in 1965, at the ripe young age of 19, she seduced the nation as Gidget, the SoCal surfing teen who spent most of her time in a swimsuit. Keep in mind, we're talking about the Bandit's girl; he remains the sexiest man to ever drive a Firebird, so obviously his girl had to be equally rapturous.
Kathleen Turner
Poor Kathleen doesn't deserve to be one of those "We Can't Look Away" headlines you find on other, less reputable sites. Of course, she couldn't always look all steamy and naked like she was in "Body Heat." But William Hurt will be able to have just as good a porn 'stache and grow ever more distinguished with age -- which is
generally the case. Some call it injustice; I just see it as payback for how much harder it is for young guys to get laid than girls (it's probably because we read stuff like this).
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley's been playing mom roles since "Terms of Endearment" -- not that there's anything wrong with moms, especially yummy, surly ones like Aurora Greenway. You likely don't remember her as Fran Kubelik in Billy Wilder's 1960 Best Picture winner, "The Apartment." She plays a mistress of one of Jack Lemmon's many bosses whom Jack lends his bachelor pad to in exchange for career advancement so his bosses may indulge in extramarital affairs. As a nod to such simpler times, when infidelity was apparently just the norm, I'll always try to remember Shirley in such lovely black and white light, even if Madame Sousatzka keeps interrupting.
Martha Stewart
Ever since she did time in the clink, I've had a much deeper appreciation for Martha's charms. Or maybe that's just since "Orange Is the New Black." Either way, now that I've seen her early
modeling work, I'm forever smitten. A former model/current mogul is a dangerous combo. And though it's completely unrelated, I feel a responsibility to tell you she went to Nutley High School. Nutley. (photo via
Business Insider)
Judi Dench
You shouldn't need any evidence beyond the
amoral Sally Bowles in "Cabaret." However, allow me to present the photo above, when young M got all green, naked and friendly with a donkey -- or at least a man with the head of a donkey -- in Peter Hall's 1968 film adaptation of The Bard's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" a filmtrip that could only be made in the late '60s by swinging Brits (including two other lovely ladies on this list). I've never wanted to be a donkey so badly in all my life.
Diana Rigg
Another veteran of Hall's "MSND," as we Shakespeare-heads call it, the real head of House Martell has always been a stunner. But playing Emma Peel in the popular Brit TV show "The Avengers," she did more than merely stun. As one of the first ladies to popularize the leather catsuit, Rigg changed the world by offering a vision of S&M to the masses. And we are all better men because of it.
Helen Mirren
Of course you know Helen is hot because she's a stone-old fox, but did you know she was also young once? Sir Peter Hall must have had one heck of an eye, because Mirren also starred in "MSND" when she was only 23 (long before she was coronated, of course). Just look at the photo above,
reportedly of her in 1969, the same year she inspired great art in "Age of Consent." You could just tell she had Golden Globes in her future.
Angela Lansbury
If you've only seen Angela as a tea kettle, then you've got some more seeing to do. Although, granted, she is the sexiest damn tea kettle around.
Jane Fonda
Only hot girls get away with the shit Hanoi Jane used to pull. But you can bet old stodgy Republicans still get off to her behind closed doors. Interestingly, for me, Jane was always kind of mom-like, since my mom jazzercised to her
workout videos. But having rewatched hours of these lately, for research, I can't believe I wasn't always stunned by her loose-lefty morals and tightly-toned thighs. Of course, if I had seen the
opening credits of "Barbarella" alone, I would have been.
Susan Sarandon
Sure, you've probably thought of her as sexy as hell since you saw her in "The Witches of Eastwick" in 1987 and "Bull Durham" in 1988, but she was already past 40 by then. Not to say she didn't age like a fine wine, but if you like to drink wine right when it's ripe, "Atlantic City" is the movie for you. That is, unless there's another one that features her squeezing lemons all over her breasts just to make sure they're lemony clean for Burt Lancaster's voyeuristic eyes. And even that was five years after parading around in her underwear in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," much to the delight of goths and theater geeks everywhere. This came five years after her big screen debut "Joe," the first time we saw her
glorious pair up close and personal.