Comments on: Aging Women in Hollywood

By: Janet S. Tiger

Janet S. Tiger — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 21:42:08 +0000

I agree – I miss seeing actresses who have ‘aged’ (don’t forget Sally Field, in spite of Gidget and Flying Nun fame, she did some very fine work – as good as Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon) But there are a lot of post-40 actresses working in the theater – and a lot of great roles for them.

Maybe I’m prejudiced because I write plays and have many friends who also write, so I know there are roles out there. My question is – are these actresses we haven’t seen recently ready to take a chance on new work by unknown writers? If they were, I think you’d see a lot of them working in some incredible shows. If anyone on this blog knows some of these actresses, ask them – Do they look for unknown stuff? And not through the regular channels. Do they travel the country on a search for a new writer hiding in Dubuque, Iowa? Or look at the new plays at not only the Humana Festival, but maybe some little ones, like the Fritz Blitz of New Plays in San Diego?

I think that there is a wealth of material (maybe not all of mine, but maybe some of mine!) and I challenge them to put up some kind of real

search before they all come out with the line, ‘There’s nothing out there for actresses over 40.’

By: labtec

labtec — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 00:57:31 +0000

Here are more reasons that mature women are more desirable than school girls. I read in a medical oriented magazine that men reach their sexual peak at age 17. It’s hard to believe it’s all down hill from then on, but that’s what the experts say. Women, on the other hand reach their sexual peak at between 35 and 40 years old. Add to that fact, that a world of experience, and practice comes along with that 40 years.

Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Lange, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, & others are all 40, or over, and are still heart breakers. These actresses could all play “The other woman” in a movie, and be a lot more believable than a Paris Hilton, or Jessica Simpson, because the knowledge they have gained both on the movie set, and in the bedroom over those 40 years count for a lot.

What would Paris, or Jessica really know about it, other than get “nekid” and lay there.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 23:50:25 +0000

Women in Hollywood have to be young, pretty and willing to bare it all. That’s because the vast majority of directors, producers and casting people are men. They write and direct movies using their fantasies. That’s why even though women are 52% of the population they only comprise 28% of acting roles. Male writers write movies with male leads. They throw women in there as eye candy for themselves. It’s disgusting! It doesn’t stop there though. Men are also given all the credit. If you look at any movie summary or the info on a show or movie on tv you’ll see the description is centered around the male character AND most of the time it only lists the male characters too.

By: labtec

labtec — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 16:26:29 +0000

I for one am growing weary seeing 20 year olds trying to play a part that should be for someone who has been around long enough to make the part they are playing believable. With all the technelogical advances in surgery, exercises, and make up, a woman can be absolutely stunning past 40.

I can’t think of a 20 year old who would have been more sexy, or beautiful than Diane Lane in “Unfaithful”. Just a couple of others who are older than her are Elizabeth Shue, & Elizabeth Hurley. These women are gorgeous. A 20 year old boy would jump at the chance to have any one of these women on his arm.

By: jodie

jodie — Tue, 24 May 2005 11:51:31 +0000

i think that society constructs social roles, which people conform to. Hollywood is simply applying these social expectations in an attempt to satisfy the surrounding society. If they were to subvert from these roles, it may result in disapproval and rejection, a costly error for Hollywood, which they are not going to take.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 14 May 2005 13:22:27 +0000

I was actually at the screening of Lemming at the Grand Lumiere the other night and I must say that there is a particular scenen in that film were Charlotte Rampling is more sensual than almost any other woman I’ve ever seen on the screen. Here seens truly made the film for me. She was absolutely stunning. It’s ashame older women aren’t more promenent as they seem are able to convey so much more than just a good ass.

By: m$m

m$m — Sat, 14 May 2005 08:30:35 +0000

its really a soceital problem not a hollywood problem. Our soceity puts more value on lust rather than love for the individual female.

I think its cause we exaggerate the theory that men mainly lust , women mainly love and theres nothing you can do to change that natural way of the world.

Once more people start thinking older women hot ill bet youll start seeing more of em in movies.

By: Arethusa

Arethusa — Sat, 14 May 2005 00:43:15 +0000

Well Lily, I already do vote with my wallet, so I’ve got that pat, but I was thinking in terms of more practical, influential means of getting the general public to take to it. Like I said, this trend is evasive in most of the media and our lives, it’s not just Hollywood. It’s also dicier in getting wide spread support for such things because movie tastes are mostly subjective.

My comment on ageism was just a correction, I wasn’t disputing the point. :)

By: Lilly

Lilly — Fri, 13 May 2005 23:29:38 +0000

Arethusa, what can we do??? We can vote with out wallets, that’s what! And our brains, and our tastes and our intellect. That’s why blogs are such a great forum for this kind of debate. Someone out there from some studio or some producer could potentially be reading this and think a new trend is afoot, and he or she would be half right! We are talking about it, and that’s a great start. We suck at follow through, however. That’s the next plan of attack. Who’s with me on this?!

And as for ageism, yes it’s not about race, but it’s till discrimination. Package it any way you want to, but a certain segment of our society is being marginalised and shelved long before their expiration date. That’s just wrong! That shouldn’t happen, nor should they be so powerless to stop it.

By: Marla Singer

Marla Singer — Fri, 13 May 2005 21:56:46 +0000

what about sarah jessica parker getting dumped by GAP? she turned 40 and they replaced her with joss stone…ew
i think sarah is beautiful and she did an awesome job with the GAP ads