Words: Lani Heywood (she/her)
CW: body image
In an industry headed almost exclusively by old white men, it’s not surprising that the female stars of our screens age like milk and the men, like fine wine. In a 2020 article, Women’s Agenda took a dive into Hollywood’s cold neglect of women over 50, finding that only 1 in 4 movies featured a woman over 50 who is significantly tied to the plot, presented in a humanising way, and not reduced to an ageist stereotype. While there’s no denying men in Hollywood also fall victim to its impossible standards, there seems to be no sell-by date on their career; no ‘ticking clock’ ominously counting down the days until they become ‘unfuckable’.
Men age charmingly. In their 40s, they migrate from heartthrob to rugged bachelor. Perhaps they get offered a marvel movie or some slightly shitty rom-com in which they are saved, from a life of sleeping around and eating chinese takeaway, by some early 20s magazine columnist – she’s probably looking to settle down and finally become a ‘real writer’. When men hit their 50s, they’re in for the big money. They embrace the grey, graduate into the silver fox hall of fame, and rumours start circling that they are the next James Bond. Then they hit their 60s and they only get older (unlike their girlfriends). The cigars come out, their suits get a grand more expensive and they are mainly featured in penthouse offices or behind mahogany desks.
Women however? Meryl Streep, icon of the screen, hailed often as ‘the greatest actress of her generation’, revealed that when she turned 40 she was offered 3 witches in a year. For an actress famous for her versatility (not to mention her almost 50-year career), you would think that Hollywood could do better than reverting to the ye olde stereotype of a middle-aged lady suddenly transcending complex female characters to become haggard, bitter, and evil. Unfortunately, this fate looms large over actresses’ careers. The ghost of Roles Yet to Come points toward a tombstone marked with the date of their 40th birthday. ‘Here lies the career of a former star, killed off by menopause’.
Women’s Agenda additionally found women over 50 in film to be portrayed most commonly as stubborn, moody, unattractive, and, notably, rarely portrayed as being in a romantic relationship. They featured mainly as ‘scenery in the younger peoples’ storylines, lacking fully realised lives’.
Why are we still pushing these tired archetypes? Is it a calculated representation or are these stock characters so ingrained in our minds that their misogyny passes us by?
It’s no doubt that these ideals fuel our view of ourselves and the people around us. For centuries, throughout art and literature, these characteristics of bitterness, ugliness, and evil have been attributed to older women, most notably as witches. These tropes linger, stick to people’s perceptions, and continue to turn old age into a thing to be feared and avoided, like the plague. Enter stage left, plastic surgery, diets, makeup, etc, etc.
Director Coralie Fargeat’s recently released The Substance calls upon this insatiable desire for youth in a gruesome exploration of one ageing actress’ desperate cling to fame. It feels particularly prominent today. In an era where body positivity seems to be out and Ozempic fuelled “heroin chic” back in, it holds up a mirror to our sickening reality in which we are being eaten alive and decayed by our obsession with youth. The film’s antagonist, Sue, acts to illuminate the effects of Hollywood’s toxicity on these actresses and additionally on our own perceptions of ourselves. She is ‘perfect’, plastic, and fake. The more ‘Sue’ they look, the more haggard we are made to feel.
A Washington Post article stated that many women in their 50s report feeling invisible, like the world has tuned out and forgotten about them. However, without feeling pressured by ‘what they should want’ they reported feeling ‘freer than ever’. Glenn Close said she felt ‘as free and as creative, as sexual and as eager’ as ever at 70. These truths are the ones we need to hear. We need stories that explore the thoughts, feelings, and adventures of women that have been freed from the need to be something or someone to society. This should be hailed as a time of great excitement and discovery, it feels ripe with creativity and drama, so why are we ignoring it?
There is a cry for films that will do this period of women’s lives justice. Films that will change our perceptions of older age and encourage women to take back control of their own narrative, leaving the archetypes at the door. Older women are more than the side characters they are made out to be. Their 50s and beyond are a time for discovery, revelation, and re-evaluation of who they are and what they want. They are people, with complex lives, feelings, relationships, and stories lying dormant there. Stories that have been beaten down by the spectre of Los Angeles, come to drag actresses to their premature grave. Let them out! Let them free! Let this renaissance of film commence!
