How Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, and Pamela Anderson are challenging 'ageist' Hollywood with meaty roles and award show nods For decades, celebrities have called out the ageism that has forced Hollywood's leading ladies into the shadows after they turn 40.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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