Cameron Diaz turned 40 in a way that few women do -- by posting for British Esquire in a leather corset and garter belt.

Terry Richardson / Courtesy Esquire UK

The actress shows off her long legs in short shorts and high-heeled boots on the magazine's cover.

Inside, the black lingerie is shown off in a black-and-white photo, and other photos show her in a leather jacket and jean shorts, a jean jacket over a bustier bra, and in a torn white shirt over black lingerie.

Terry Richardson / Courtesy of Esquire UK

As if the photos didn't make it clear, age doesn't bother the "Bad Teacher" star, whose next film, the Coen Brothers' "Gambit," hits theaters in 2013.

Terry Richardson / Courtesy of Esquire UK

"Getting older is the best part of life," she tells the magazine. "Like, I know more than I’ve ever known. I have gratitude. I know myself better. I feel more capable than ever. And as far as the physicality of it -- I feel better at 40 than I did at 25."

The full interview appears in the November issue of Esquire UK, on sale Thursday. Also available as a digital edition.

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Jason Merritt / Getty Images file

Cameron Diaz is just getting better with time. The stunning "Bad Teacher" star turns the big 4-0 today, and while we're not sure how she'll celebrate her birthday just yet, Diaz definitely has several reasons to throw one major party.

In the year leading up to her 40th birthday, the leggy blonde became the new face of Tag Heuer Watches, looked ber-hot on the cover of U.K. Harper's Bazaar and landed on Forbes' list as one of Hollywood's highest paid actresses.

Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz wanted for The Expendables 3!

And that wasn't all.

After dazzling at the premiere of her flick "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Diaz began writing a book for young girls about the importance of proper nutrition and staying healthy -- a project that was semi-inspired by her new BFF Gwyneth Paltrow.

With a few movies (and more projects) already in the works, we can't wait to see what else is in store for this ageless beauty.

Take a look at these awesome celebrity birthday bashes!

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NEW YORK -- Kristen Stewart, who shot to fame as Bella Swan in "The Twilight Saga" films and has a starring role in "Snow White and the Huntsman," jumped to the top of Forbes.com's annual list of highest-paid actresses on Tuesday.

Slideshow: Kristen Stewart

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Launch slideshow

The 22-year-old earned an estimated $34.5 million from May 2011 to May 2012 and pushed Angelina Jolie into fourth place.

Cameron Diaz, who had a surprise hit with "Bad Teacher," came in second with $34 million.

"She (Stewart) is an up-and-coming star. She is earning a lot of money from one of the most successful franchises of all time. This is who you would expect to see right now," said Dorothy Pomerantz, Forbes Los Angeles bureau chief.

"This year you are seeing somebody young and at the brink of potentially great stardom sitting on the top of the list."

Forbes.com compiled the list and estimated salaries by talking to agents, managers and lawyers and based earnings on pay, profits, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock, who largely took a break from filming after 2009's "The Blind Side," came in third with $25 million.

Jolie, who topped last year's list along with Sarah Jessica Parker, dropped to the fourth spot with earnings of $20 million while Charlize Theron, Stewart's co-star in "Snow White and the Huntsman" who also appears in "Prometheus," trailed at $18 million, and rounded out the top five places.

Parker, whose 2011 film "I Don't Know How She Does It" brought in a disappointing $30 million at the worldwide box office, slipped to seventh place with a $15 million salary.

"She is almost earning more from her perfume and endorsement deals right now than from entertainment. That is true of a lot of women. They have these outside deals that are very lucrative. Angelina Jolie earns a lot from residuals, as does Sarah Jessica Parker," Pomerantz said.

Former "Friends" star Jennifer Anniston just made the list, earning an $11 million salary.

The top 10 actresses earned a total of $200 million, according to Forbes.com, a lot less than the $361 million total that the 10 highest-earning men made.

"It is nowhere near what men are making," Pomerantz said. "I think it will be a while until women see salary parity, if it ever happens. Women are paid less in every industry, not just in Hollywood."

The full list can be found at Forbes.com

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TODAY

Cameron Diaz may not have known exactly what to expect on the set of her new film, "What to Expect When You're Expecting," but she did have a pretty good idea of what goes on in delivery rooms -- having been present for all three births of her sister's children.

"First, a C-section, which will change your life -- do not witness that!" she advised TODAY's Ann Curry Monday morning. "And then the vaginal birth, which will change your life, men -- do not look at it.... Stay behind the curtain."

"What to Expect" features Diaz and "Glee's" Matthew Morrison in one of five segments, which tell different stories and star actors including Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick and Dennis Quaid.

Becoming an aunt, said Diaz, gave her some insight into being a mom (which she is not), which helped in making the movie. "I was very invested in it, the emotion there. You're waiting for the child to come," she said. "You're waiting to love this child and the intensity of that, all the fear, the terror, the excitement, the joy, everything that's present in the room at that moment is just so tangible, it's so beautiful, and we wanted to bring that to the (film's birth) scene."

Later on TODAY, "Glee" regular Matthew Morrison chatted with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on his role in the film:

"What to Expect When You're Expecting" opens May 11. Check out the trailer:

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