The Sunset Strip was a graveyard of potential, or at least that’s what the brochure had said in 1995.
Despite these undeniable milestones, the battle against ageism in entertainment is far from completely won. Red carpets and media coverage still disproportionately fixate on the physical appearance and anti-aging regimens of older actresses, reinforcing societal pressures to maintain a youthful facade. Furthermore, data shows that while roles for women in their 40s and 50s have increased, representation still drops significantly for women over 60, and even more sharply for older women of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Women were frequently cast as love interests or symbols of youth. Once they aged out of these roles, the character options dwindled sharply.