Historically, women in Hollywood faced a "cliff" at age 40, with roles becoming scarce or stereotypical. However, recent years have seen a shift toward more authentic and ambitious portrayals:

In 2025, women aged 60 and older accounted for only 2% of all major female characters in top-grossing films, compared to 8% for men in the same bracket.

The landscape for mature women in entertainment and cinema is undergoing a significant transformation in 2026. While long-standing biases persist, a growing number of actresses over 40 and 50 are securing complex, leading roles that challenge traditional aging narratives.