The landscape for mature women in entertainment and cinema is currently undergoing a "visibility shift"
: Villains like the heartless stepmother or the "cronish queen," embodying a backlash against older women with power. The landscape for mature women in entertainment and
: Female characters often "disappear" after age 40; the percentage of major female characters on broadcast programs drops from 42% (in their 30s) to 15% (in their 40s) Critical and Commercial Success Stories Quiz Lady (2023) gave us Sandra Oh (53)
This is the most hopeful archetype: the woman who finds her purpose after the children leave, after the divorce, after retirement. Thelma (2024) starring June Squibb (94!) is an action-comedy about a grandmother scamming the scammers. Quiz Lady (2023) gave us Sandra Oh (53) discovering her inner brilliance. after the divorce
A new generation of icons is proving that peak success has no expiration date: Viola Davis