How A-listers have aged backwards since their break-ups

A break-up can force us to reflect on not only the relationship we had with that person, but also ourselves. 

Some people may hit the gym to clear their minds and get a ‘revenge body’ while others may toss out their old clothes in a bid to find a new identity.

But among A-list men who find their serious relationships are breaking down during a time we would call the ‘mid-life’ period of a person’s lifetime, a very particular type of makeover has taken hold.

Hollywood royalty including the likes of Hugh Jackman, Chris Pratt and, as of recent times, Ben Affleck, have shown off their drastically different looks as they appear to ditch clean-cut, more formal dressing and don strikingly different outfits as they explore life as single men; or in their new relationships.

While Ben has often opted for more casual outfits while married to J Lo, he left fans stunned when he went into full biker mode this weekend, with his faux-hawk and leather jacket.

Often, the Hollywood midlife makeover appears to be a bid to dress a little bit younger than usual – with many A-listers ditching smart shoes for trainers and bow ties for open necklines.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the high-profile men who have switched up their style following the end of their marriages as they begin new chapters of their lives… 

Ben Affleck

The American actor and filmmaker, 51, married Jennifer Lopez, 55, in 2022 but the couple have not been seen together in two months.

Sources have told DailyMail.com the couple have prepared divorce documents to file at a later date.

The pair initially started dating in 2002 – following Jlo’s split from her husband Cris Judd – and dated for two years, eventually splitting up in 2004.

In 2021, the pair rekindled their relationship, three years after his divorce from Jennifer Garner. 

Rumours have swirled around the state of Jlo and Ben’s marriage for months after strained outings together. 

For much of his career, Ben’s style has rocked the all-American look; lumberjack-style plaid shirts, baseball caps, and a switch between the clean-shaven appearance versus a full beard.

But as reports emerge that he and J Lo are finalising their divorce papers, Ben has shocked fans with his new appearance which has waved goodbye to the Affleck of old.

As he stepped out in LA this weekend, one could be forgiven for mistaking the actor for Top Gun’s Goose as he sported a snug leather jacket, a much shorter haircut and aviator sunglasses, paired with a Red Hot Chili Peppers t-shirt. 

He rounded off the outfit with skinny jeans, but went noticeably without his wedding ring over the weekend.

The sides of his head were shaved down almost completely, with only the barest bit of scruff left over as he took a stab at a punk rock aesthetic.

This is not the first time he has altered his look post-breakup, as he debuted a different style after his divorce from Jennifer Garner. 

He acquired a massive back tattoo of a phoenix that he initially claimed was ‘fake for a role’ after fans began remarking on it on social media.

However, years later, after being mocked for ‘his enormous, garish tattoo’ in the New Yorker, he admitted the body art was real.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt has wowed fans with his age-defying looks; and since his split with Angelina Jolie which has included years-long divorce proceedings, he seems to have morphed into his famous Benjamin Button character as some say he’s ageing backwards.  

Just this summer, he cut a dapper figure while filming for his F1 movie and attending the British Grand Prix.

The actor, 60, showed off his impressive physique as he donned a form-fitting white lycra shirt and jumpsuit.

In other snaps from the same month, Brad looked youthful with a golden tan and freshly trimmed beachy blond hair, as he showed up for filming in a chic and youthful green shirt and jeans.

It’s a move away from his ensembles in the mid 2010s – marked by hats and sunglasses and awkwardly-fitting blazers.

Last year, an expert speaking to FEMAIL suggested how the secret to his eternally youthful looks may be down to post-divorce ‘tweakments’ since his split.

Laura Kay, cosmetics specialist and founder of Laura Kay London, said that the Oscar Award-winning actor’s young appearance can be explained by a combination of a good skin maintenance programme, plus a few procedures here and there.

Hollywood heartthrob Brad set tongues wagging last summer after he was spotted on set in France looking barely a day older than when he made his name in titles such as Fight Club.

Pitt appeared in a white shirt and beige trousers in a vineyard in the Var region of the French Riviera.

He was filming a commercial for the Italian appliance brand De’Longhi, which manufactures luxury coffee and espresso machines.

After stunning the world with his smooth complexion and bright smile, many fans have drawn comparisons between the actor and one of his most famous roles, Benjamin Button.

The character, from 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, ages in reverse. 

Brad seemed to be in good spirits as as he smiled and chatted with crew members on the set of the commercial, in which he stars alongside Karina Beuthe.

As he radiated youthful energy, Laura explained how she believes the Oscar winner has managed to age in reverse.

Speaking to FEMAIL, she said: ‘Brad appears to have very subtly invested in some ‘tweakments’ to retain a youthful appearance. 

‘He has reduced fine lines and his skin is dewy and fresh. Therefore he may have had Botox to reduce wrinkles and face peels will help to rejuvenate his skin. 

‘He could also have focused on certain areas including the neck, jowls and his hairline/hair that are very noticeable signs of ageing – and with a skilled practitioner people will hardly notice the difference, yet it will look transformative.’

She added that, if Brad has opted for a few nips and tucks, it may be related to his split from Angelina Jolie.

The couple, who share four children, married in 2014 but separated two years later, with Jolie citing ‘irreconcilable differences’.

In light of the split, Laura explained: ‘Post divorce surgery and tweakments are officially on the rise, and it is not just a trend amongst women. Men are also booking in for botox, fillers, face peels, brow treatments and hairline work, to name a few.’ 

As well as cosmetic procedures, Laura suggested Pitt also takes good care of his skin with a strict maintenance routine.

‘He will also be prioritising a skincare regime with day and night cream to help hydrate the surface layers of the skin,’ she explained.

‘Brad is sporting a bronze tan and he will be using SPF to protect his skin from UV rays. But a well as preventing risks of cancers, a good quality SPF can also prevent premature skin ageing which will reduce saggy skin, age spots and fine lines. 

‘He is looking younger than ever and will be inspiring thousands of mature men.’

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt has long been renowned for this glow-up since before his divorce from Anna Faris in 2018.

However, a noticeable difference in his fashion and style saw the actor, 45, move towards sleeker fitting suits and continue to commit to working out after their split.

Back in 2019 – fresh off the heels of his split from Anna, who he had been with for nine years – he went viral as fans praised him for his relaxed shirtless physique after he was spotted celebrating the New Year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with his family.

However, he has since committed to a sculpted physique routine. 

In June of that year, he had just tied the knot with his now wife Katherine Schwarzenegger at the luxury San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.

Since then, he has shared a number of shirtless photos over the years showing off his gym progress and flexing his muscles.

With a diet plan from nutritionist Phil Goglia and an intense training regimen designed by personal trainer Duffy Gaver, he dropped 60 pounds in six months for his return as a superhero in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Earlier this year, he showed off his incredible results of working out every day of 2024 so far.

The actor took to Instagram in January to show off his toned abs on his tenth consecutive day of exercising since the beginning of the new year.

Besides sharing a shirtless photo after his workout, he also revealed his secret to keep going — his supportive wife. 

The movie star posted a video of himself talking in the gym about her encouragement and sharing his own motivation.

‘Okay so, day 10 done. When I said that I was up before the kids yesterday, I was,’ he said about his early morning workout routine. ‘And now I’m up again today before the kids.’ 

While still at the gym, he added that he was grateful that his wife ‘poked me in the ribs’ to encourage him to keep up with his New Year’s resolution.

‘I didn’t credit Katherine for nudging me in the ribs when I tried to go back to sleep,’ he continued. 

‘She did that yesterday and today,’ he added. ‘I set my alarm and then, you know, I did that thing where I was like, ‘I’m just going to lay here with my eyes closed.”

To keep him from snoozing and to support him, he said, ‘She poked me in the ribs. She said ‘get up’.’

He also said he praised all of those following through with their resolutions with the support of their loved ones or those doing the hard work by themselves.

‘Credit to all the people out there who are doing it with the help of someone else,’ he said. ‘Credit to all those someone else’s and to those of you who don’t have someone poking you in the ribs and need that motivation from someone.’

He then tried to share some encouragement to his 45.8 million followers. ‘Maybe I can give it to you right now,’ he said. ‘Get up. Go get that workout. Feel good. Drink some water.’

Then, he posted on his Stories a mirror selfie of himself showing off his toned muscles and giving a thumbs up to the camera.

The Parks and Recreation vet revealed that to stay in shape, he also does intermittent fasting. He shared a photo of his three kids enjoying their breakfast and wrote that he would be ‘fasting til noon’.

He and Schwarzenegger, 34, share two daughters — three-year-old Lyla Maria and 18-month-old Eloise Christina. He also shares 11-year-old son with his ex-wife, Anna Faris. 

While taking a walk, he explained that he only has an energy drink without sugar in the morning, which he said gives him enough energy to get through his workout.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman has been endlessly praised for his good looks and incredible physique – after years of playing hunky action hero Wolverine on screens. 

However, the 55-year-old appears to be going through yet another ‘glow up’ following his divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness.

While he has always been in shape, the star appears to have leaned into his naturally youthful appearance and ditched his facial hair.

The star has been clean-shaven while promoting his latest film with Ryan Reynolds – and was last month spotted looking fresh and vibrant.

On his way to an interview with Good Morning America, Hugh looked years younger than 50 in a sharply-fitted light grey suit and white shoes.

The actor looked cool as he accessorised with aviators and styled his plentiful tresses in a relaxed look. 

Hugh and Deborra-Lee – who share two adopted children, a son Oscar, 24, and a daughter Ava, 18 – confirmed their split in September.

‘We have been blessed to share almost three decades together in a wonderful, loving marriage,’ the couple said in a statement to People at the time.

‘Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth. Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. 

‘We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.  We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition.’

An insider previously told ET that there ‘is no animosity’ between the exes.

‘Hugh and Deborra-Lee are both on different pages and in separate chapters of their lives,’ they said. ‘They felt like it was time to divorce, but they still maintain a happy and cordial friendship.’

‘At the end of the day, it was their collective agreement to go their separate ways and do the healthiest thing for everyone involved,’ they added. 

The couple had tied the knot in 1996 after crossing paths on set of Correlli in 1995.

Kelsey Grammer

The 69-year-old known for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom Cheers and its spin-off Frasier, married Camille Meyer in 1997. 

Camille – who is 14 years his junior – is known for appearing on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 

When married to Camille, she would often take the spotlight at events, wearing lavish, colourful dresses while he would don simple suits and appear to shyly smile. 

Meanwhile Grammer was dutifully by his wife’s side, often suited and booted in a sharp tuxedo and dress shoes. 

However, after his split with Camille and new marriage to British former flight attendant Kayte Walsh, 44, Grammer has ditched the stuffy Frasier Crane outfits for a more relaxed, casual look.

At the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards held in LA in January, Kelsey looked as though he was glowing from head-to-toe in a dapper black tux and showed off his pearly white teeth as he beamed for the cameras.

Similarly, he put on a smart display when he stepped out at the ‘Unsung Hero’ screening at Lionsgate in April in Santa Monica donning a pair of skinny blue jeans, a blazer and an open white shirt.

Kelsey and Camille divorced in 2011 with Kelsey telling Graham Bensinger in 2019: ‘Honestly, I don’t really talk about her very much, because so much of her life is spent talking about me and I just think it’s sort of pathetic.’

He said that a month after he had his heart attack in 2008, his mother passed away. On the day of her funeral, he alleged that Camille asked for a divorce.

He told In Depth with Graham Bensinger: ‘She started telling me, ‘I’m out of this, I’m out of here. I want a divorce, blah, blah, blah, which, we’d had the same conversation for eight years, and it was tiresome.’  

Camille denied the allegations and wrote on Twitter, now X, in 2019: ‘This is not true.  My parents were with us in the Hamptons when we received the news about his mom’s passing. 

‘We consoled him and flew back to LA to make arrangements for her funeral. It’s unfortunate that he is rewriting history.’ 

Chris Martin

Coldplay singer Chris Martin, 47, married Gwyneth Paltrow in 2003 and the pair went on to have two children together named Apple and Moses.

While they were dating, Chris would don relatively simple fits such as a beanie with jeans and a simple jacket, when they stepped out together in the early noughties. 

He was known for cutting an unassuming figure while out and about and similarly brought his modest dressing on stage while performing.

However, since his split from the Hollywood actress in 2018, Martin’s style has evolved into an eclectic mix of bright colours and child-like shapes. 

As the British band headlined Glastonbury this year, Martin’s outfit was fun, summery and vibrant – and as his cut-off T-shirts showed off his arms, it didn’t go unnoticed that he was looking very ripped indeed.

He also donned a sleeveless grey t-shirt while holding his guitar as he honoured the founder of the festival, Sir Michael Eavis. 

Speaking about their divorce, Gwyneth told British Vogue: ‘We were close, though we never fully settled into being a couple. We just didn’t quite fit together. There was always a bit of unease and unrest. But man, did we love our children.’

Gwyneth and Chris’s decision to ‘consciously uncouple’ was an approach suggested by their therapist.

They tested this for a year before publicly announcing their split, with Gwyneth adding: ‘Was there a world where we could break up and not lose everything? Could we be a family, even though we were not a couple? We decided to try.’

Chris reportedly officially got engaged to Dakota Johnson in March of this year.

The couple have kept their romance private since they first began their relationship six years ago. 

A source told The Mirror: ‘The couple got engaged a while ago and have kept the news private. But now they are being open about it with their circles.

‘They have been besotted with each other from day one so taking this next step was inevitable. They are in no rush to plan the wedding but are just enjoying making their commitment official.’

Dakota was also seen wearing an emerald green ring on her wedding finger at her 34th birthday in Los Angeles last October.