For decades, the "expiration date" for women in Hollywood was a punchline that felt like a death sentence. Actresses often spoke of a sudden "shuttering" of roles once they hit 40, transitioning abruptly from leading ladies to the "mother of the protagonist" or, worse, disappearing entirely.

But the dam has broken. The success of projects centered on mature women has created a self-fulfilling prophecy:

During Hollywood's Golden Age, women like Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Bette Davis dominated the silver screen. These actresses, often in their 30s and 40s, played complex, dynamic characters that captivated audiences worldwide. However, as the studio system declined, roles for mature women began to dwindle.

We cannot pop the champagne cork just yet. The gap is still wide. For every Everything Everywhere All at Once (giving Michelle Yeoh the role of a lifetime at 60), there are ten scripts where the 45-year-old actress is the wife of the guy who fights the monster .