Actresses like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Viola Davis are creating their own production companies to option books and develop complex roles for themselves and their peers.

The Renaissance of Maturity: How Mature Women Are Redefining Entertainment and Cinema

These myths created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Talented actresses like Meryl Streep (who famously lamented being offered only "witch or a godmother" after 40), Susan Sarandon, and Helen Mirren fought for scraps, while their male peers enjoyed complex, leading roles well into their seventies.

Women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and disabled women over 40 still face disproportionate barriers compared to their white, able-bodied peers.