: This trend reversed sharply in 2025, with female protagonists plummeting to 29% of top films .

The landscape for female-led cinema has been highly volatile recently.

: Women aged 60 and older are among the least represented groups, accounting for only 2% to 4% of major female characters . 2. Economic Power and the "Entrepreneur-Actress"

Mature actresses who have sustained their careers often do so by pivoting to production and business, gaining creative control that traditional studio systems may deny them. Top 10 Highest-Paid Actresses of 2025 Report - Slideshare

: For the first time, gender parity was nearly reached in leading roles, with 54% of top-grossing films featuring a female lead or co-lead.

: On-screen representation for women remains heavily skewed toward youth. While 41% of major female characters in recent television and streaming are in their 30s, this drops to just 16% for women in their 40s .