I’ve heard the comments before, how movies nearly always show older men hooking up with younger (much, much younger) women. This is often followed by observations that there are no older women (older than 29?) in the movies unless the script calls for an old hag, or perhaps a woman who’s trying to maintain a young appearance at any cost.
Apart from Goldie Hawn (keeps looking better as she ages, IMHO), Sophia Loren, and Anne Margaret, are there any attractive women over 40 left in Hollywood? Does no-one out there realize that women do not have to be teenagers or young adults to be worthy of our attention? Frankly, I’m not very attracted to a woman who has nothing to offer except a youthful body. Sure, a sexy young thing might get my attention, but what does she have that will maintain my interest? I like women who can think, have opinions, and can remember some of the same historical events I can because she was around when they happened.
Is Hollywood so filled with men experiencing their mid-life crisis that there are no parts for mature women? Just once, I’d like to see Sean Connery or Harrison Ford turn down the advances of some young thing fresh out of high school because he’d rather hook up with someone his own age. Is this too much to ask? I fear it is.
The main questions:[list=1][li]Do you think Hollywood will ever get over the current older man/younger woman fixation?[/li]
[li]Do you think we’ll ever see women over 40 starring in movies on a regular basis?[/li]
[li]Who are some actresses over 40 (apart from the ones listed above) who could carry a movie based on their reputation as an actress?[/li]
[li]I happen to appreciate women my age (40+). Am I some sort of anomaly?[/list=1][/li]
(I almost put this in MPSIMS, but I think it’s a bit more important a topic that that.)
Sally Field (54) ~ She’s still up & running, is attractive too!! Plays a wide variety of roles, has 4 movies to be coming out within the next year or so.
Sharon Stone (42) ~ Attractive, great actress…we’ll see more of her as she grows older, too.
Joan Allen (44) ~ Was in The Contender recently, but has also had strong roles in Pleasantville, The Ice Storm, Nixon, Searching for Bobby Fischer and Tucker We should also be seeing a lot more of her…amazing actress…roles will be written for her to play!
Annette Bening (42) ~ Has not done much, but what she does is good. Whether it’s pure comedy and silliness (Mars Attacks) to romantic comedies (Dave) to Period Pieces (Richard III) to Dramas (Postcards from the Edge, Regarding Henry, American Beauty).
Helena Bonham Carter (36) ~ I know, she’s not 40+ but she is up there in Hollywood’s terms. Phenomenal actress, done a lot of Shakespeare, a lot of British films, recently branching out into some American films and getting some more publicity.
I may be biased, since these women are also on my “Fave Actresses” list.
I hope this sparks something good for you - hope or names to watch for, etc. You can find more on these remarkable female actresses at http://www.imdb.com as well as more of what movies they have done. At least they will provide you with many rental-movie nights of pleasure, if nothing else.
There are still a few out there getting jobs. Sigourney Weaver is still working constantly, as well as Michelle Pfeiffer, Anne Archer, Francis McDormand, Catharine Deneuve(sp?), Susan Sarandon, Cher, Sonja Braga, and Amy Irving.
In answer to your questions:
Fat chance.
Yes, but only a few a year and rarely in romantic roles. Moms, aging hookers, quirky aunts, ex-wives, etc. are the parts they most often get.
See list above
Lordy, I hope not. I’m well within spitting distance of the big 4-0 and I like to think I can still interest certain discerning men.
Well, she’s not in Hollywood, but IMHO Jenny Agutter only gets more talented and, yes, sexier as she ages. She was born in December '51, so she’s either 49 or soon will be.
Did Hollywood ever really cater to women over 40? It seems like a recent pheomenon, but look back at some past examples. How old was Bogie (47 or so) when he was paired with 26 year old Lauren Bacall? I’m also sure he was a good ten-fifteen years older than Ingrid Bergman.
I think, in the past, even starlets in their early 20s had a tendency to play more mature, better-written roles than today. Silly teenage films were left to the B-film side of the street for the most part.
They made a big deal about Rene Russo in 1999’s The Thomas Crown Affair. She is about 45, and played a very sexy and attractive woman (wearing revealing outfits in the movie.) The media did make a big deal about how an “older” woman was playing this part so effectively. And I thought, “Damn! It’s Rene Russo! She’s beautiful! Why shouldn’t she be playing beautiful, sexy women?”
When I was in High school I dated more college age college women/girls because they weren’t so silly IMHO,and knew where they were going, sometimes. Well, my wife is older than I am(thankfully, she’s more mature) and near 40 and I like the maturity that comes with it! To answer
Not likely
I hope so, I like seeing older women in the theater
and television. There are some big name actresses who are really bankable, which should matter more than the fresh face of the week.
