: Aging in Hollywood remains a distinct challenge for women compared to their 20s, with many experiencing a desire for stability and family support as roles potentially become less frequent.

: Mature women have recently dominated major award categories. For example, at the 2026 Movies for Grownups Awards , Laura Dern won Best Actress for Is This Thing On? , and Regina Hall took home Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another .

: In a landmark moment, 62-year-old Demi Moore won her first Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination for her role in The Substance , a film that directly tackles Hollywood ageism.

: Recent studies highlight a steep drop-off in roles for women after age 40. While 41% of major female characters on TV are in their 30s, this falls to just 16% for those in their 40s. In contrast, more than half of major male characters are older than 40.