Research from the Geena Davis Institute identifies several recurring tropes for mature women: Beyond the Stereotypes: The Reality of Aging Women in Films
: Just 1 in 4 characters aged 50+ are women, reflecting a serious gender imbalance in the portrayal of older adults. In many global markets, there were zero female leads over 50 in top-grossing films as recently as 2019. lesbo milf
: A USC Annenberg report found that 54 of the top 100 grossing films in 2024 featured a female lead or co-lead, a massive increase from just 30 in 2023. Research from the Geena Davis Institute identifies several
: Recent years have seen older women sweeping major awards, including Kate Winslet (46), Jean Smart (70), and Frances McDormand (64). Common Portrayals and Stereotypes : Recent years have seen older women sweeping
: Despite progress, female characters often "disappear" in their 40s. On broadcast programs, the percentage of major female characters drops from 42% in their 30s to just 15% in their 40s.