‘You’ll regret it when you’re older’ is the universal warning to anyone who rushes into getting a tattoo in their youth.
And the advice seems to have worked so well that an increasing number of mid-lifers are waiting until their 50s and beyond to start flirting with body art.
Most recently, it was 53-year-old British actress Thandiwe Newton who showed off her collection of tattoos at the world premiere of Anaconda, in Los Angeles.
Her corseted gold dress showed off the human heart surrounded by a pattern of dots and dashes in the centre of her cleavage to eye-popping effect.
The star’s other inkings include a smiley face, the Shona word ‘mapinza’, which refers to a child who wants to do something they shouldn’t and the Portuguese phrase ‘A luta continua’, which translates to ‘the struggle continues’.
Thandiwe is not the only celebrity to re-invent their look with permanent body art well past their teenage years.
She is joined by the likes of Ben Affleck, 53, and Jennifer Lopez, 56, former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, 55, and even Judi Dench, 91.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, stylist Lisa Talbot has given her verdict on who has managed an inking that’s symbolic and authentic, rather than try-hard.
‘Fine-line artwork, botanical motifs, handwritten scripts and symbolic designs tend to feel more elegant while thoughtful placement, such as the inner arm, shoulder blade or ankle – allows the tattoo to move naturally with the body,’ she explained.
Read on for Lisa’s verdict on which celebs have pulled off timeless tattoos – and who would have been better off cancelling the appointment…
Thandiwe Newton, 53
Thandiwe Newton, 53, showed off her collection of tattoos at the world premiere of Anaconda, in Los Angeles which included a heart on her chest, a smiley face, and two quotes on her arms
Thandiwe, now 53, first showed off her most recent piece body of art – a black line drawing of a heart on her chest – in 2022 at the 48th Deauville American Film Festival in France where she received the Deauville Talent Award.
Wearing a plunging pink blazer suit, the then 49-year-old made quite the statement, especially as she had recently split from her husband of 16 years Ol Parker just five months earlier.
Lisa suggested the star was re-branding following a tumultuous period in her life – which is why it works well.
‘For many women, a tattoo in midlife is a quiet statement of ownership, of their body, their story and who they’ve become,’ she explained. ‘Done well, it doesn’t diminish elegance. It enhances it.’
She added: ‘Thandiwe’s tattoo works because it feels intentional and personal rather than trend-led. It aligns with her understated, intelligent style and reads as modern, artistic and confident, not attention-seeking.’
Verdict: Artistic
Katie Price, 47
Katie Price is well known for her love of tattoos and has an ever-expanding collection which now includes a large floral design on her bottom (pictured)
Katie Price is well known for her love of tattoos and has an ever-expanding collection.
Her most recent inking has outshone her previous designs and has taken more than six hours to complete. Earlier this month, the 47-year-old showed off a floral design on her bottom – echoing Cheryl’s famous rose tattoo.
Katie has more than twenty tattoos and got the whole of her back covered with angel wings last year.
She previously had tributes to ex-husband Peter Andre and ex-fiancé Leandro Penna – both of which she has since covered up.
Other inkings include a garter on her thigh, a crown for daughter Princess, 18, and a rose which was used to cover up ex Pete’s name.
Other notable tattoos include red hearts and stars on her wrist in tribute to sons Harvey, 23, and Junior, 20, a bow on her hip to represent her loved ones ‘tied together, and the initials H and J on the back of her neck.
But despite her extensive collection, the stylist said: ‘With Katie, tattoos have always been part of her identity.
‘The issue isn’t age, but scale and density, when tattoos dominate rather than complement the body, they can overwhelm rather than elevate personal style.’
Verdict: Overwhelming
Nicole Young, 39
Nicole Young has added to her minimalist tattoo collection with a sword and crown motif – matching her husband Brandon
The Selling Sunset star, 39, has added to her minimalist tattoo collection with a sword and crown motif – matching her husband Brandon.
The reality star got the inking on her right bicep and stated that she wanted something ‘feminine and delicate’ and found the designing process a dream come true.
While the real estate broker is known for her glamorous looks, Lisa says her tattoos give off an air of elegance.
‘Nicole’s tattoos feel curated and contemporary’, she said. ‘The placement and design choices make them feel fashion-forward rather than rebellious, which is why they work well at this stage of life.’
Verdict: Elegant
Ben Affleck, 53, and Jennifer Lopez, 56
Ben Affleck and Jenifer Lopez got matching tattoos when they tied the knot in 2022; the pair included their initials and names with an infinity symbol, they later split in 2025
Ben Affleck added to his controversial tattoo collection in 2023 with a sweet tribute to Jennifer Lopez.
But the star had previously found himself at the centre of discussion for an eyebrow-raising design inked in 2015.
The then-42-year-old actor, claimed the enormous phoenix covering his back was fake, but later came clean and admitted he had lied because he felt the discussion around it was ‘intrusive’.
More recently The Good Will Hunting star added a tribute to his now-ex-wife Lopez in the form of entwined initials.
Affleck had a pair of overlapping arrows under his armpit area with the letters J and B between them to commemorate his marriage to the singer who opted for an infinity sign with an arrow on it that read the words ‘Jennifer’ and ‘Ben’.
And while many might think the matching designs are romantic, Lisa explained that the couple’s tattoo have make diverging statements.
Lisa explained: ‘J Lo’s tattoos feel personal and romantic, while Ben’s have often sparked debate due to scale and boldness. It shows how design and placement, not age, determine whether a tattoo feels stylish or distracting.’
Verdict: Romantic for J Lo, Distracting for Ben
Richard Hammond, 55
Richard Hammond showed off a tattoo in 2019 which reads ‘micris fidelis’ – a perfect anagram of midlife crisis
Having driven every high-powered car he possibly can, the Top Gear presenter decided to push the boundaries of his comfort zone in a different way.
In 2019, the then-50-year-old, revealed he had got a new inking on Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show.
He told the host: ‘It says micris fidelis, which in sort of cod Latin means faithful to small things,’ he revealed, adding: ‘But it’s a letter-perfect anagram of midlife crisis. So that is my midlife crisis tattoo.’
He revealed it took him months to settle on the design and confessed many had already joked he was clearly going through a midlife crisis when he had it done.
And Lisa said: ‘For men in midlife, tattoos often feel more accepted socially. Richard’s tattoos suit his public persona, relaxed, informal and authentic, which is why they don’t jar.’
Verdict: Authentic
Nicola Sturgeon, 55
The former politician revealed her tattoo on ITV’s News at Ten, showing off an infinity symbol with an arrow on her wrist
Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon decided to get a tattoo at the age of 55 and proudly showed it off during her book tour earlier this year
And it’s not just celebrities who are committing to permanent body art. Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon decided to take a leap of faith earlier this year at the age of 55.
The former politician revealed her tattoo on ITV’s News at Ten, showing off an infinity symbol with an arrow on her wrist.
She told the programme she had come up with the design herself and that only she knew the ‘true meaning’ behind it, but that to her, it represented strength.
Nicola said: ‘Midlife crisis alert! What it is, is known really only to me, but I’ll give you a kind of sense of it… In summary, what it signifies to me is strength, resilience and continuing to move forward, even when it feels impossible.
She added: ‘And it might not be my last one now that I’ve got the taste for it.’
Stylist Lisa told the Daily Mail that Nicola was making a bold statement following her years in the public eye.
‘In politics especially, tattoos challenge traditional expectations,’ she said. ‘Any visible ink on someone like Nicola Sturgeon would be read as a statement of modernity and confidence rather than conformity.’
Verdict: Confident
Judi Dench, 91
Actress and national treasure Judi Dench decided to get her first tattoo at the grand age of 81 in 2016 – the quote carpe diem
Actress Judi Dench decided to get her first tattoo at the grand age of 81 in 2016.
The thespian was given the inking as a gift by her daughter Finty the previous year and the star claimed that the words were meant to be her motto.
However she confessed the phrase caused some confusion among the company of The Winter’s Tale, with whom she was performing at the time.
Dame Judi had previously expressed an interest in having a tattoo. Speaking to Good Housekeeping magazine in 2015, she said: ‘I am tempted to have a tattoo to mark my birthday. Finty’s [her daughter] very keen on me having one. There’s an Indian symbol that I like which supposedly represents life and love and everything.’
The verdict from Lisa was that Judi Dench’s tattoo worked because ‘it was symbolic, discreet and deeply personal’.
She added: ‘It felt like a private act of self-expression rather than a visual statement, quietly powerful and very elegant.’
Verdict: Powerful
Meg Ryan, 64
Meg Ryan committed a positive motto to her body aged, 51 in 2016 when she had the phrase ‘life is short’ inked on her forearm in cursive (pictured in October)
Meg Ryan committed a positive motto to her body aged 53 in 2016 when she had the phrase ‘life is short’ inked on her forearm in cursive.
The sleepless in Seattle star, now 64, only has the one tattoo which often blends in with her elegant all-black outfits.
And Lisa explained that it has helped the star to take command of herself in mid-life.
‘With Meg Ryan, tattoos signal reinvention rather than rebellion. They reflect a woman rewriting her narrative in midlife, which many women now relate to.’
Verdict: Relatable
Olivia Colman, 51
The Favourite star revealed her secret tattoo tribute to her husband Ed Sinclair during an interview earlier this year – showing off her forearm inking for the first time (pictured)
The Favourite star revealed her secret tattoo tribute to her husband Ed Sinclair during an interview earlier this year.
She showed off the inking down her right arm and hilariously admitted that it looked terrible.
But it’s not the first tattoo the 51-year-old has got. In 2021 Dakota Johnson admitted to giving Colman her first ever tattoo after a cast party in New York.
Olivia said at the time that the actress inked ‘the initials of my loved ones’ on her left arm using a stick-and-poke tattoo kit.
Regarding Olivia’s inking, Lisa said it suited the star’s personality, adding: ‘Olivia Colman’s appeal lies in her authenticity. Any tattoo she has feels secondary to her personality, which is why it comes across as charming rather than performative.’
Verdict: Charming
Amanda Holden, 54
Last year Amanda Holden, 54, took the plunge and got her first ever tattoo – two tiny hearts on her wrist representing her two children, Holly and Lexi
Last year Amanda Holden, 54, took the plunge and got her first tattoo during a girls holiday in Los Angeles.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge showed off two small hearts inked close together on her wrist and revealed they ‘symbolize my two children’ Holly and Lexi.
Amanda joked on the Heart Breakfast radio show that she knew exactly what her husband of 16 years would say about the body art despite the sweet meaning behind it.
Lisa said: ‘Amanda’s tattoos are subtle and well-placed, complementing her polished image. They add softness and personality without disrupting her glamorous, feminine style.’
Verdict: Feminine
Ian McKellan, 86
Sir Ian McKellen inked the number nine in elvish on his shoulder, to mark his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
Not to be outdone by Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen also got inked later in life.
The Mr Holmes star got tattooed the number nine in elvish to mark his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy alongside his co-stars including Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood.
The then 62-year-old went for the design in 2001 but more recently reflected on it, joking in an interview in 2020: ‘When I read this upside down, of course, it spells Gucci.’
The sweet tribute, on the thespian’s shoulder, is his first and only tattoo and the stylist said his tattoo is ‘symbolic rather than aesthetic. In later life, tattoos like this are about values and legacy and that’s why they resonate so strongly’.
Verdict: Symbolic
