Celebs who still 'rock' at 50

Melbourne, July 27 : They have either hit 50 or are about to, but the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince show no signs of getting "old", in fact they have shaken up the notions of ageing.

Once, 50 was the start of old age. Now, it's just another birthday for a generation that refuses to conform to stereotype.

Prince celebrated his 50th in June, while Madonna and Jackson are set to crack open the champagne and blow out their candles on August 16 and August 29, respectively.

Creatively, they are all one-offs. There is nobody to compare them to and no one else quite like them.

"Fifty is no longer what it once was,'' the Daily Telegraph quoted demographer Bernard Salt, as saying.

"A 50-year-old male a generation ago would have had a comb-over and a pot belly from eating meat and potatoes. Life expectancy was in your 70s, whereas today it is well into the 80s.

"There is no point in being old at 50 because you have another 30 odd years to go: You are too far from the finish line to pack it in so people start presenting themselves as being much younger," Salt added.

Other notable identities to have celebrated a 50th birthday over the past year include Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, musician Nick Cave, actresses Rachel Ward, Melanie Griffith and Sharon Stone, as well as talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

ANI