You’ve seen her on the front lines of every major conflict for the last forty years. The trademark safari jacket, the crisp, authoritative British accent, and that unflinching gaze that has stared down dictators from Sarajevo to Tehran. But these days, when people search for her, the question isn't just about her latest report from a war zone. People want to know: how old is Christiane Amanpour, and how is she still doing this at such a high level?
Honestly, her age is kind of a badge of honor in an industry that famously obsesses over youth.
The Numbers: How Old is Christiane Amanpour Exactly?
Let's just get the math out of the way. Christiane Amanpour was born on January 12, 1958. As of right now, in early 2026, she is 68 years old.
She just celebrated her birthday a few days ago. Most people at 68 are thinking about slowing down or figuring out their retirement pension. Amanpour? She’s still the Chief International Anchor for CNN and a pillar for PBS. Age, for her, seems more like a cumulative data set of experience rather than a reason to exit the stage.
Born into a World of Change
She wasn't always the global icon we know. Born in Ealing, London, to an Iranian father and a British mother, her early years were split between the UK and Tehran. Her father, Mohammad, was a wealthy airline executive. Life was good until the 1979 Iranian Revolution upended everything. Her family fled, losing their fortune and their home.
That specific trauma—being a 21-year-old watching your world vanish—is basically the "origin story" for her career. It gave her a lived understanding of what happens when politics goes south. She didn't just study history; she felt it.
Why 68 is the New Power Age in Journalism
There’s something to be said for longevity. When you're 68 and you've spent four decades in the field, you have a "BS detector" that younger reporters just haven't developed yet.
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Amanpour joined CNN in 1983. At the time, it was a "fledgling" network that people laughed at. She started as an entry-level desk assistant. Think about that. The woman who now interviews presidents started by fetching coffee and filing papers in Atlanta.
By the time the Gulf War hit in 1990, she was a household name. Her age back then? Just 32. She’s been in our living rooms for more than half her life.
The Health Battle Nobody Saw Coming
The reason the question of how old is Christiane Amanpour has trended recently isn't just about birthdays. It’s about her health. In June 2021, she shocked viewers by announcing she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
She was 63 at the time. She underwent major surgery and grueling chemotherapy. But here’s the thing: she didn't hide. She used her platform to talk about it, urging women to "listen to their bodies."
Fast forward to late 2025 and early 2026, and she’s been candid about the fact that the cancer has recurred. In October 2025, she revealed on a podcast with Dr. Angela George that the cancer had returned for a third time, appearing in a lymph node.
But instead of a "warrior" narrative that feels forced, she describes her current treatment—immunotherapy—as "the opposite of grueling." She takes daily pills and gets infusions every six weeks. She’s still on the air. She’s still working. It’s pretty incredible, really.
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Career Milestones That Defined Her
You can't talk about her age without talking about what she’s done with those years. She has won basically every award that exists.
- 16 News and Documentary Emmys
- 4 Peabody Awards
- The Edward R. Murrow Award
- CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
She isn't just a reporter; she's a witness. During the Siege of Sarajevo, she was criticized for not being "neutral." Her response? "There are some situations one simply cannot be neutral about... Objectivity doesn't mean treating all sides equally. It means giving each side a hearing."
That philosophy is why, even at 68, she remains relevant. In a world of "both-sides-ism," her clarity is a rare commodity.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her
People often assume she’s "unbreakable." But in recent interviews, especially on the Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story podcast, she admitted that asking for help was a huge hurdle.
"I never actually asked for help before... and when I did, I got it," she said. It’s a reminder that even global powerhouses have a human side. Her age has brought a certain softness and transparency that wasn't always there in her younger, "Iron Lady" reporting days.
Life Beyond the Camera
She was married to James Rubin, a former US Assistant Secretary of State, for twenty years before they divorced in 2018. They have one son, Darius. Despite the high-profile nature of her work, she’s kept her private life relatively quiet. She lives in London now, though she’s effectively a citizen of the world.
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Why Christiane Amanpour Still Matters in 2026
We are living through a time of massive geopolitical shifts. Whether it's the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, or the rise of AI in media, we need voices that have seen the "before" and the "after."
Amanpour provides that bridge. She’s 68, she’s a cancer survivor, and she’s still asking the questions that make world leaders uncomfortable.
If you're looking for lessons from her journey, here are the big ones:
- Health is proactive: Don't ignore that weird pain in your side. Amanpour caught her recurrence because she’s monitored every three months.
- Adaptability is king: She went from a desk assistant to a digital-era powerhouse by never being afraid of new formats (like her PBS show Amanpour & Company).
- Vulnerability is a strength: Coming clean about her cancer diagnosis didn't weaken her brand; it made it more resilient.
If you’re curious about following her current work, she continues to host The Amanpour Hour on Saturdays and her nightly show on CNN International. She’s also a frequent speaker at major summits, like the upcoming Intelligence Squared event in February 2026, where she’ll be discussing the "World in 2026."
Keep an eye on her social media or the CNN "Amanpour" newsletter for real-time updates on her reporting and her advocacy for early cancer detection. It’s worth your time.