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Mature women on screen continue to face reductive characterization. UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2026 Theatrical Film

The representation of mature women in entertainment and cinema is currently a paradox of high-profile individual success against a backdrop of systemic decline. While veteran actresses dominated major awards ceremonies in 2025 and 2026, large-scale data reveals that major roles for women over 40 dropped significantly compared to previous years.

Women aged 60 and older are dramatically underrepresented, accounting for only 2% of all major female characters in 2025's top-grossing films, compared to 8% for men in the same age bracket.