The shift began slowly, with pioneers fighting tooth and nail for complex roles. Meryl Streep, often cited as the exception that proved the rule, spent decades proving that audiences would pay to watch women of a certain age. Her roles in films like The Devil Wears Prada and It’s Complicated were crucial pivots. She wasn't just a mother; she was a titan of industry, a lover, a woman with a complex interior life.
In the action genre, (who won her own Oscar for Everything Everywhere ) reprised her iconic role in Halloween Ends at 64, proving that final girls grow up to become hardened survivalists. Meanwhile, Angela Bassett (66) garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , delivering a regal, grief-stricken performance that anchored an entire Marvel blockbuster.
Despite high-profile successes, systemic barriers remain. Research from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media reveals that while progress is visible on television, film still lags behind: