For decades, celebrities have called out the ageism that has forced Hollywood's leading ladies into the shadows after they turn 40. A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Helen Mirren, and Jamie Lee Curtis have repeatedly and publicly called on the entertainment industry to recognise that talent doesn't have a 'sell-by' date and star power transcends youthfulness.
![[Michelle Yeoh was 61 when she scooped the Best Actress Oscar for Everything, Everywhere, All At Once]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/12/93909643-14259357-image-a-2_1736424176554.jpg)
Despite their efforts though, it's largely been the case that leading lady roles go to younger women, while those in their forties are demoted to frumpy supporting parts that turn into frivolous cameos. Even in films where it appears that an older woman is the star, this is not always the case - the classic example being 1967's The Graduate, in which which a young graduate called Benjamin - played by Dustin Hoffman- has an affair with older woman Mrs. Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft.
![[While Jennifer Coolidge has been acting since 1993 - when she made her first on-screen appearance in one episode of Seinfeld - it wasn't until 2022, that the 60-year-old started taking home awards for her work]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/12/93909723-14259357-image-a-3_1736424278116.jpg)
While Benjamin's age in the film was 21, the actor's actual age was 29. Meanwhile, Anne Bancroft was 35 - some 10 years or so younger than the age of the character she was playing. However, the most recent Golden Globe Awards suggest the tide is starting to turn -with middle-aged thespians being rewarded for their bold, stigma-defying, and nuanced performances in some of the year's biggest hits.
![[Despite her decades-long career, 2025 marked her first Golden Globe nomination, as Pamela was recognised in the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance in The Last Showgirls]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/12/93909793-14259357-image-a-4_1736424425757.jpg)
The recently concluded ceremony saw Hollywood's older leading ladies reclaim the spotlight, with seven of the coveted Best Actress awards going to women over the age of 40. This list notably included Demi Moore who, at the age of 62, scooped her first ever acting prize after years of being dismissed as a 'popcorn actress'.
![[Nicole Kidman, 57, has had a prolific year when it comes to her career, notably starring in the risque erotic thriller Babygirl,]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/14/93909807-14259357-Nicole_Kidman_57_has_had_a_prolific_year_when_it_comes_to_her_ca-a-2_1736432411854.jpg)
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