Only about 25% of film characters over 50 are women. On broadcast television, the percentage of major female characters plummets from 42% in their 30s to just 15% in their 40s.

A powerful cohort of actresses is actively dismantling these barriers. Icons like Meryl Streep , Helen Mirren , Judi Dench , and Viola Davis have transitioned from young starlets to "matriarchs of the industry," commanding lead roles that emphasize intelligence, authority, and complex emotional lives. Judi Dench

The Evolving Spotlight: Mature Women in Entertainment and Cinema