The Best Things Celebrities Say About Turning 50 Gallery

Whether you call it the big 5-0, the 11th anniversary of your 39th birthday, or just "that unspeakable birthday," there's something intimidating about turning 50. But turning 50 doesn't have to be a taboo subject, and these celebrity quotes about this landmark birthday prove it.

After all, 50 is called the "golden anniversary" for a reason. You're reaching your golden years! It's that time in your life when the stresses of trying to fit in, work your way up the corporate ladder, and raise a family are behind you. But you're still young enough to travel the world, explore your passions, and find your inner confidence. Sounds like a win-win situation to us.

In honor of turning 50, we collected 15 of the best celebrity quotes about this achievement. Now, not every celebrity feels amazing about this particular revolution around the sun. Madonna, in her classic defiant style, entered her 50th year with a big attitude. Julia Roberts, on the dawn of her 50th birthday, even called out the subtle sexism of marking this birthday with any particular significance. But others like J.K. Rowling, Michelle Obama, and Jennifer Aniston recognize this birthday as a chance to live a long, healthy, and happy life.

"I don't think life stops after 50. If anything, it gets more and more exciting. For some reason, we don't honor or pay respect to aging. It's something that we look at as a negative, and yet every single person on this planet does it."

"Turning 50 is making me reflect on my life in a way that's more compassionate and forgiving. I'm able to almost accept the old me."

"I celebrated by throwing a big bowl on the pottery wheel, then going for a water ski at the lake on our property in the Catskills, and that night, skinny-dipping under the stars. Just being free and joyful. And that's how I felt about turning 50."

"I'm just really going, 'OK, this is my life,' and I'm very, very happy to be 50. I think that's what happens with birthdays once you get to a particular age, you're just like, 'Yay, OK, here we go!'"

"It sucks. There's no way to sugarcoat it. You kind of go, wow, where does the time go? I feel like I just turned 40."

"I feel very secure within myself — strong, happy and motivated. Hopefully I've gained some wisdom over the years. And I have a sense of humor about my mistakes. I've accepted that I don't always get it right, but it's not the end of the world."

"F**k you. I'm 50. That's what I'm going to say when I turn 50. Sorry."

"The thing about 50 is that you've clearly reached a point where you have more of your life behind you than ahead of you, and that's a very different place to be in. You're thinking, 'I've done most of it.' I don't like that feeling. But it makes you evaluate your life and go, 'Am I doing what I want to do? Am I spending my time the way I want?'"

"I'm old enough where hopefully I've made enough mistakes I'm not going to repeat. And I'm still young enough that I can appreciate that wisdom."

"I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my own health and making sure that I'm eating right and getting exercise and watching the aches and pains. I want to be this really fly 80-, 90-year-old."

"Looking 50 is great... if you're 60!"

"There's nothing different about this birthday than any other one. Really, people? Are we still in that space? Did anyone ever go over this with George Clooney or Brad Pitt before their 50th birthdays?"

"My mother died at 45... You've got to celebrate every year you're here in good health. What's the alternative to aging? It's checking out. I'd rather still be here. I still have children to raise, books to write."

"If you look after yourself and you're healthy, then you'll have the energy to do things. But not to recognize getting older for what it is? I do think the infantilization of our generation is one of the huge issues of our time. People wanting to be 35 when they're 50 makes me think: Why? Why don't you be 50 and be good at that? And also embody the kinds of choices that are sustainable at that age."

"What I've learned in this first 50 is that if you can allow yourself to breathe into the depth, wonder, beauty, craziness, and strife — everything that represents the fullness of your life — you can live fearlessly. Because you come to realize that if you just keep breathing, you cannot be conquered." And now that you know the best things celebrities have to say about turning 50, you need to know the 50 rules to throw out when you turn 50.

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