The sex symbols of the 80s - here's what they look like today

Kim Basinger ruled the screen in 9 1/2 Weeks (1986), Never Say Never Again (1983) and Batman (1989) as one of the '80s favourite blonde bombshells. 

She's largely stepped away from the screen in recent years, but has lent her acting skills to animated projects like short film Back Home Again (2021) and and, according to IMDb, is currently recording for animated adventure Getting Lost.

In 1980, Tom Selleck landed a starring role on Magnum, P.I. as Thomas Magnum himself, earning an Emmy Award and becoming a recognisable (and beloved) face on screen.

His '80s stardom included a lead role in Three Men and a Baby and a real-world daughter in 1988. In 2010, he found more recent and ongoing fame on Blue Bloods and recently narrated documentary Revolutionary America.

Kathleen Turner rose to '80s stardom with projects like Body Heat and Peggy Sue Got Married. In Romancing the Stone, she starred opposite fellow heartthrob Michael Douglas as romance novelist Joan Wilder.

At 72 years old, she's still acting and recently contributed her voice acting skills to Andy Serkis' Animal Farm as well as upcoming short Joan's Teeth. She's also been open about her experience with arthritis, telling Vulture: "I'm getting stronger all the time. So let's find out what I can do."

Don Johnson starred as undercover detective Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice, redefining the heartthrob potential of a pastel suit with his cool, brooding energy.

More recently, he starred as Captain Robert Massey on Doctor Odyssey and cameoed on HBO show Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America. According to his IMDb, Don is currently filming sports drama Score.

The Queen of Pop defined the sound of the '80s for many club goers, and simultaneously inspired plenty of teenage crushes. With '80s hits like 'Material Girl', 'Like a Virgin' and 'Holiday', she was a certified megastar.

After a health scare in 2023, it has been business as usual for the pop star. Her latest project, studio album Confessions II was released in July 2026 and has remixed her single 'Love Sensation' with the help of Australian icon Kylie Minogue.

Richard Gere was one of the '80s favourite leading men with credits in An Officer and a Gentleman, and American Gigolo – a reputation that carried him over into the following decade with Pretty Woman. 

His star success has only grown since lead roles in Chicago, Maybe I Do and TV drama The Agency. According to his IMDb, he has several projects in post-production, including thriller Left Seat.

Heather Locklear was a stable of '80s sex symbols regularly appearing on the TV screen. With recurring roles throughout the decade on Dynasty and T.J. Hooker she cemented her star status. 

Later credits include continued TV fame on Spin City, Melrose Place and Too Close to Home. She recently appeared in TV movie Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story (2024).

It's hard to imagine a time when Tom Cruise wasn't a Hollywood heartthrob, but '80s kids were lucky enough to witness the actor make it big. He got his start in the early '80s, making a name for himself in The Outsiders and breaking into mainstream celebrity with Risky Business (1983).