Writing a new narrative for women in midlife on the big screen
Female representation in film and television hits a significant drop-off precisely as actors enter their 40s.
On broadcast and streaming, female characters drop from 46% of speaking roles in their 30s to just 15% in their 40s.
Mature female characters are twice as likely as men to be defined by narratives focused on physical aging or cosmetic procedures.
Only 6% of films featuring women over 40 mention menopause. When it is mentioned, it is usually portrayed as a joke or linked to "meno-rage" tropes rather than a realistic life stage.