continues her prolific run with projects like Scarpetta and Margo’s Got Money Troubles .
A growing list of veteran actresses and directors are actively dismantling ageist tropes by taking creative control. Women still face steep challenges securing top movie jobs
: In television and streaming, female characters begin to disappear substantially at age 40; major female roles drop from 33%–42% for women in their 30s to only 14%–15% for those in their 40s.
Streaming platforms like , Apple TV+ , and Paramount+ have become the primary engines for this visibility. Unlike traditional theatrical releases that often prioritized a youth-centric box office, streaming data shows that audiences of all ages are "hungry" for nuanced portrayals of mature women.
: In 2025, women accounted for only 23% of key behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, producers) on top-grossing films. Key Leaders and Recent Breakthroughs
: Characters over 50 make up less than 25% of all personas in blockbuster movies, with male characters in that bracket outnumbering females by 80% to 20%.