13 Celebrities Who Publicly Lied About Their Age

Why do we become so freaked out over getting older if age is just a number? After turning 30, some people don't like to admit their age, while for others, it's just a number—after all, you're only as old as you feel. Especially in the Entertainment industry, age can be a sensitive topic.
The aging problem is not that easy for celebrities, especially women. Your age may determine whether you get that job or whether you pass up the chance to play the star. Many famous people have lied about their age (and admitted it later!), whether it was to appear younger than they are or old enough to be taken seriously for a job.
We could spend hours discussing why our society places such a priority on how old ladies are, but instead, we choose to have fun by showcasing notable people who fake their age. Continue reading to find out about notable celebrities who haven't always been honest about their real ages and birth dates.

#1 Eminem

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When Eminem first appeared on Howard Stern's show in 1999, he informed the host and listeners that he was 24 years old. He was actually 27 years old at the time, and the rapper is now 50.

#2 Gabrielle Carteris

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In a 2019 interview with People, Beverly Hills 90210 star Gabrielle Carteris said that she had to lie about her age to get the part of Andrea Zuckerman, who was supposed to be 16 years old. She pretended to be 21 even though she was 29 at the time of her audition.

#3 Geri Halliwell

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Although Geri Halliwell, a.k.a. Ginger Spice, was widely known to be the eldest member of the Spice Girls, for a while no one truly knew her exact age. She is thought to be around 48 years old at the moment, although Mel B., a fellow Spice Girl, stated she wasn't even sure whether that was the appropriate age when she appeared on Loose Women in 2018.

#4 James Blunt

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Even though Blunt's age had been confirmed as 33 in 2007, he reportedly claimed to be that age again in 2010, which isn't exactly how aging occurs. After that, he was even found out again for lying about his age!

#5 Jennifer Lopez

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There is no doubt that Jennifer Lopez, 53, appears years younger than she actually is, but she may have tried to lose a year of her life at one point. Even though her apparent birthday is July 24, 1969, some publications continue to claim that Lopez was born on July 24, 1970.

#6 Jessica Chastain

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Although 46-year-old Jessica Chastain hasn't overtly lied about her age, she hasn't been completely honest either. It was a mystery to the general public for a while. And in a 2013 interview with The Guardian, she claimed that she purposefully avoids mentioning her age so that it won't affect the roles she is offered.

#7 Laurence Fishburne

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Laurence Fishburne was just 14 years old when he auditioned for Apocalypse Now, trying to play an 18-year-old role. He claimed to be 16 when he wasn't, and it worked because he got the part.
In an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Fishburne claimed that he was certain Francis Ford Coppola was aware of the child actor's true age the entire time.

#8 Mila Kunis

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Mila Kunis, who is now 39, was only 14 when she first went through the casting process for That '70s Show, making her unqualified for the role of Jackie Burkhart, which would launch her career. She, therefore, distorted the truth.
"I told them I was a little bit older… I told them I was gonna be 18, which is not technically a lie, cause at one point… I was gonna be 18," She admitted it.
The fact that she told the lie helped her get the job and led to the meeting with her future husband, Ashton Kutcher.

#9 Nelly

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Back in 2003, rapper Nelly was named one of Teen People's Hottest Stars Under 25, but later it was revealed that he was really 28 at the time and was therefore not eligible for the list. Nelly turns 48 today.

#10 Nicki Minaj

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The rapper (now 40) claimed to have been born in 1984, but when she got into a fight in 2011, the lie was exposed. She was born in 1982, not 1984 as she'd misled followers, according to a police report that surfaced following the event.

#11 Rebel Wilson

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Until a former classmate published a photo from her high school years with Australia's Women's Day magazine, revealing that the Pitch Perfect star was 36, fans had assumed that Rebel Wilson was 28 years old. Wilson later explained to WHO Magazine why she decided to lie.
"Being an actress it affects women more than men in terms of ageism and sexism so to be called out by the press on something most sensible business-minded people would have done in my position, it was a bit hurtful," the now 41-year-old actor said. "When you're an actor, you have what's called a playing range; to me, it's not beneficial having your age written anyway."

#12 Sandra Bullock

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Sandra Bullock, 58, can be added to the group of female actors who have lied about their ages to advance their careers. She admitted to Detour (via E! News) that she never intended to be dishonest but that she later recognized it could be advantageous to keep her age a secret.
She said, "After a while, you have no idea how old you are because you've lied so many times. I always said I would never lie, but one time when I didn't, it worked against me. So I figure you just keep them guessing."

#13 Whoopi Goldberg

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Whoopi Goldberg admitted lying about her age in a 1986 interview with The Washington Post; at the time, she was only 30 years old but was widely believed to be 35.
She claimed at the time, "I had to lie about my age to get some jobs."