Even A-listers report reduced offers post-45. However, those who package themselves (e.g., Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine ) circumvent this.

In recent years, there has been a surge of mature women taking on leading roles in film and entertainment. Some notable examples include:

After decades as a "scream queen" and then a "character actress," Curtis rode the wave of Everything Everywhere All at Once to her first Oscar. She didn’t play the hot lead; she played an IRS auditor with a heart of gold and a hand full of glitter. Her win wasn't a lifetime achievement award; it was a recognition that her weird, specific, middle-aged energy was the soul of the film.