: For decades, a "U-shape" pattern emerged where female roles peaked in youth and sharply declined after age 30, while men's careers often peaked 15 years later.
Recent years have seen a "ripple turning into a wave," with mature actresses dominating major awards and redefining what it means to age on screen. Judi Dench
: Older women have historically faced "gendered ageism," being four times more likely to be portrayed as "senile" or "feeble" than men of the same age. Modern Shifts and Successes