In 2025, the percentage of female protagonists in top-grossing films plummeted from 42% in 2024 to just . For mature women specifically:

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The landscape for mature women in entertainment as of April 2026 is characterized by a "reversal of progress". Despite high-profile awards for veteran actresses, recent data shows a significant drop in both on-screen visibility and behind-the-scenes leadership for women over 40.

: While 41% of female characters on television are in their 30s, that figure drops to 16% for women in their 40s .

: Women aged 60 and older represent only 2% of all major female characters , compared to 8% for men in the same age bracket.

: In 2025, not a single top-grossing film featured a woman of color aged 45 or older in a leading or co-leading role. Key Thematic Trends (2025–2026)