Continues to win acclaim and awards for her lead role in Hacks , portraying a legendary comedian navigating industry shifts. Critical Industry Gaps
Following her success in The Substance (2024), which sparked global conversations about ageism and beauty standards, she is currently a central figure in the Paramount+ series Landman .
Despite these high-profile wins, research from 2025 and 2026 highlights significant disparities: Continues to win acclaim and awards for her
The landscape for mature women in entertainment and cinema is undergoing a dual shift: while veteran actresses are leading high-profile, complex projects, industry-wide data reveals a persistent "cliff" in opportunities once women reach midlife.
A 2025 study found that while 60% of major female characters in broadcast and streaming are in their 20s or 30s, major male characters are more likely to be in their 40s or older. Only 29% of female characters were older than 40, compared to over half (54%) of male characters. A 2025 study found that while 60% of
When older women are shown, they are twice as likely as men to have storylines focused entirely on physical aging (15% vs. 7%).
Continues her prolific run with the crime-thriller Scarpetta and a potential third season of Big Little Lies . Continues to win acclaim and awards for her
Menopause remains almost nonexistent in cinema. A comprehensive study of top-grossing films from 2009–2024 found that only 6% of films with a lead female character over 40 mentioned menopause at all, often using it as a punchline for mood swings. The "Silver Economy" Influence