: Women over 40 are twice as likely as men to have storylines focused specifically on physical aging (15% vs. 7%).
: Meryl Streep (76) used her 2026 press tour for The Devil Wears Prada 2 to explicitly challenge the idea that women over 50 "disappear into the woodwork," advocating for visibility that deepens with age. milf in ropes
: Glenn Close continues to lead major projects, including the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man and the legal drama All’s Fair . Similarly, Julia Roberts (58) is moving away from " America’s Sweetheart " roles to tackle darker, more mature subject matter in After the Hunt . Persistent Industry Barriers : Women over 40 are twice as likely
: In 2025, the number of top-grossing films featuring female leads hit a seven-year low (39 films out of 100). Shockingly, not a single film in that sample featured a woman of color aged 45 or older in a leading role. : Glenn Close continues to lead major projects,
: Actresses like Rose Byrne (46) in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and Kate Hudson (46) in Song Sung Blue are being heralded for raw, expansive performances that explore career demands, caregiving, and addiction.
Despite these high-profile wins, research from the and USC Annenberg highlights systemic issues:
: Hollywood's preoccupation with freezing time often results in "uncanny" appearances where actors are not allowed to age naturally, losing the vitality of a face that reflects a lived life. Emerging Trends for 2026 The data behind Hollywood's sexism | Stacy Smith