Research - Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film

: On broadcast TV, female characters plummet from 42% in their 30s to just 15% in their 40s. For women over 60, the number falls to a mere 2–3%.

: Frances McDormand (64) won Best Actress for Nomadland , Youn Yuh-jung (74) won Best Supporting Actress for Minari , and Michelle Yeoh (60) made history with Everything Everywhere All at Once .

The representation of mature women in entertainment and cinema is currently in a state of high-profile paradox: while veteran actresses are achieving record-breaking award sweeps, statistical data reveals a persistent "invisibility cliff" that begins as early as age 40. The Current Landscape: A "Ripple of Change"

: In the 50+ age bracket, male characters outnumber females 2:1 across film and streaming. Persistent Stereotypes and the "Ageless Test"

Despite these individual triumphs, broad industry data from the Geena Davis Institute and the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film shows a stark decline in visibility for women as they age: