So, you’re sitting there, maybe scrolling through your phone, and you see a picture of Marlo Thomas looking absolutely fabulous. And a thought pops into your head: “How old is this woman? Is she a sorceress? Did she find a fountain of youth in her backyard?” Let’s dive into the delightful mystery of Marlo Thomas’s age, and trust me, it’s a story with more twists than a soap opera.

The Official Number (Hold onto your hats)

Alright, let’s get the boring, factual part out of the way. Marlo Thomas was born on November 21, 1937. That means, as of this writing, she’s 85 years old. I know, I know—your brain just short-circuited. “Eighty-five? The same age as my grandma who yells at clouds? Impossible!”

And yet, there it is. The woman who played the iconic Ann Marie on That Girl has been gracing this planet since the Great Depression was just wrapping up. She’s older than sliced bread—okay, not exactly, but she’s been around long enough to remember when “tweeting” was something birds did.

How Is This Physically Possible?

We need to talk about the Marlo Thomas Paradox. She looks like she’s maybe 55, tops. I’m convinced she has a portrait in her attic that’s doing all the aging for her, like in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Seriously, her secret must involve a diet of laughter, kale smoothies, and the tears of people who don’t get enough sleep.

When she turned 80 a few years back, she threw a party. I’m pretty sure the cake had 80 candles, but she extinguished them with a single, nonchalant puff, and then went line dancing. The woman is a national treasure made of vibranium.

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The “That Girl” Time Warp

Let’s rewind to 1966, when That Girl first aired. Marlo was 28—a perky, ambitious actress playing a single woman in New York City. The show was groundbreaking, but now? It looks like it was shot in a sepia-toned dream world. Meanwhile, Marlo herself has barely changed. She’s like a fine wine that somehow also remains a fizzy soda.

I once read that she credits her youthful appearance to not having children. She once joked, “I don’t have kids, so I have the knees of a 30-year-old.” Is that the secret? All I know is that if I ever see her, I’m asking for her skincare routine, her blood type, and her astrological sign—all of which probably just say “Eternal.”

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The Family Connection (Danny Thomas’s Little Girl)

Here’s a mind-blowing fact: Her father was Danny Thomas, the legendary comedian from Make Room for Daddy. That show aired in 1953. Marlo was already a teenager then, learning comedy from a master. So, she’s been in the public eye for seven decades. That’s like watching a star being born and then realizing it’s still a star, and it hasn’t even dimmed.

She once said her dad gave her the best advice: “Never let them see you sweat, and always have a good lawyer.” Wise words. Also, her father founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. So while you’re obsessing over her age, remember she’s spent 50 years raising billions of dollars for sick kids. She’s a saint with a wicked sense of humor.

The Internet’s Favorite Game

Do a quick Google search for “Marlo Thomas age,” and you’ll find dozens of forums where people argue: “No way she’s that old! It’s a conspiracy!” One person claimed she must have “secretly replaced herself with a robot in 1995.” Another suggested she’s a vampire who only drinks green juice. I’m not ruling either out.

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The best part? Marlo herself leans into the confusion. On Instagram, she’ll post a photo of herself hiking in the Andes, and the caption will say, “Just a regular 84-year-old doing regular 84-year-old things.” Then she’ll post a selfie in a bikini on a yacht. She’s trolling us, and we love her for it.

What’s Her Secret, Really?

Fine, you want the real answer? It’s not surgery or magic. She appears to have a secret sauce made of three ingredients: 1) Genetics (her mom lived to 98). 2) Attitude (she once said, “I’m too busy living to worry about aging”). 3) Good work (does helping thousands of children keep you young? Probably yes).

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She also exercises, eats well, and doesn’t smoke. But that’s boring. Let’s stick with the vampire theory—it’s more entertaining. The truth is, Marlo Thomas is living proof that age is just a number, and if you’re lucky, that number can look suspiciously like a typo on your driver’s license.

So, How Old Is She Really?

In conclusion, Marlo Thomas is 85 years old. But don’t believe it. Because the next time you see her on TV, accepting a lifetime achievement award in a miniskirt, you’ll realize she’s not aging; she’s collecting decades like they’re Pokémon. She’s the Benjamin Button of Hollywood—but backwards, and with better hair.

So the next time someone asks you, “How old is Marlo Thomas?” just smile and say, “Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway.” And then go eat some kale, because clearly, that’s the secret. Or maybe just watch an episode of That Girl and marvel at the fact that she barely looks a day older than her 28-year-old self. The woman is a miracle. A funny, fabulous, 85-year-old miracle.