: Women over 40 remain significantly underrepresented. According to the San Diego State University Center for the Study of Women in Film & Television , the percentage of female characters over 40 in film dropped from 20% in 2015 to just 14% in 2022.

: When older women are cast, they are frequently relegated to narrow, ageist stereotypes. They are four times more likely than men to be portrayed as senile, feeble, or homebound.

: Research from the Geena Davis Institute found that only one in four films pass the "Ageless Test," which requires at least one female character over 50 who is essential to the plot and not reduced to a stereotype. A New Era of Visibility and Power

: Television and streaming platforms have become a haven for complex roles for mature women. Series like Hacks (starring Jean Smart , 70) and Mare of Easttown (starring Kate Winslet , 46) have proven that stories centered on experienced women are both critical and commercial hits.

For decades, Hollywood has operated under a double standard where female entertainers' careers typically peak around 30, while men's careers often peak 15 years later.