Despite the progress, the fight is not over. Ageism is a hydra; cut off one head, and two more appear.
The reckoning of 2017 did more than expose predators; it exposed systemic ageism. As actresses testified to the pressure to get Botox and plastic surgery to stay employed, the industry was forced to look in the mirror. Female producers and directors began demanding scripts that reflected real women. The conversation shifted from "Why don't we cast her?" to "Why haven’t we written for her?" the island of milfs
A 2022 San Diego State University study found that while only 24% of all film roles went to women over 40, the percentage of critically acclaimed roles for that demographic had tripled since 2015. Films with a female lead over 45 are now 1.5x more likely to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar than those without. Despite the progress, the fight is not over
Economically, the data is even clearer: 80 for Brady (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field – average age 77) grossed $40 million on a $28 million budget during a pandemic-slowed market. The Miracle Club (Laura Linney, 59; Kathy Bates, 74; Maggie Smith, 88) found a devoted older female audience that studios had long ignored. As actresses testified to the pressure to get
Three major forces have converged to dismantle the old guard.