Despite occasional "renaissances" for specific stars, recent data from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Geena Davis Institute reveals a "steep drop-off" in roles for women once they pass 40.

: In 2025, the number of top-grossing films featuring female leads or co-leads hit a seven-year low , dropping to just 39 out of the top 100 films (down from 55 in 2024).

: In 2025, not a single top-100 film featured a woman of color aged 45 or older in a leading or co-leading role.

The quality of representation remains a significant challenge, with mature women often relegated to specific, limited archetypes. Beyond the Stereotypes: The Reality of Aging Women in Films