With each successive award show making it more and more clear, women over 50 appear to be finally making an impression in Hollywood. Whether it’s been the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, or the upcoming Oscars on March 12th, older women are reaping the benefits of hard-earned trophies after years of toiling away without recognition. As these wise women with stick-to-it-iveness show, if given the chance with acting opportunities and strong scripts, older female actresses can portray compelling, complicated characters worthy of being the featured performers in a production and garnering the highest awards bestowed in their industries. Whether on television, streaming, or in movie theaters, actresses such as Angela Bassett (age 64), Michelle Yeoh (age 60), Jamie Lee Curtis (age 64), Jennifer Coolidge (age 62), and Jean Smart (age 71) are all being recognized for the truly powerful performers they’ve always been.

Does that mean that the ageism that has often limited the options for older performers is now gone? Not by a long shot. Merely seeing several older female performers finally get their due does not equate with the end of ageism.  As multiple award winner Michelle Yeoh commented when she received her Golden Globe award, “’I think all of you women understand this,’ she said from the stage. “As the days, the years, the numbers get bigger, it seems like the opportunities get smaller.” And as confirmation of that, USC has documented that as recently as 2019, only 3 of the top 100 movies featured a woman over 45 in a lead or supporting role. For older women, not seeing other older women on movie screens underscores that their experiences do not matter and perhaps their place in society is not important enough to portray for film audiences. That’s a message that then spreads throughout society and helps reinforce stereotypes about what it means to get older. 

The ageism that is rampant in our culture, and often reflected in the movies, is not solely limited to women. Despite some prejudices, older men are defying stereotypes, engaging audiences, and are ready and able to portray a range of characters regardless of their age if they are given the chance. In a recent video put out by the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, several well-known actors, both male and female, exemplify the energy, spirit, and availability of older performers who still have much to give. Whether you’re 100 years old like Norman Lear or a mere 74 years old like Mimi Kennedy, these actors are living proof that the older you get, the more interesting your contributions may be. The key is to make sure you have roles that break stereotypes and offer the opportunity to still take creative risks at a later point in your career. As the #Rethinking Aging Campaign of USC Annenberg advocates, “Let’s tell the stories of older people’s lives with the depth and complexity they deserve.” And with the extraordinary talent of older performers we are so lucky to have!