The landscape for mature women in entertainment and cinema has reached a pivotal juncture as of 2026. While landmark achievements in leading roles were recorded in 2024, the industry continues to grapple with deep-seated age bias, particularly as women transition into their 40s and beyond. Current Representation and Trends
Several veteran actresses continue to defy industry norms through high-profile roles and award recognition: The landscape for mature women in entertainment and
: Women aged 60 and older are the most underrepresented, accounting for only 2-4% of major female characters. : A significant "cliff" exists for female actors after 40
: A significant "cliff" exists for female actors after 40. In 2024-25, 41% of major female characters in broadcast and streaming were in their 30s, but this figure dropped to just 16% for those in their 40s. In 2024-25, 49% of major characters on streaming
: Mature women and female creators find more success on streaming platforms than broadcast. In 2024-25, 49% of major characters on streaming were female, compared to 47% on broadcast, with streaming also seeing a historic high of 36% women creators. Leading Figures and Recent Successes
: In 2024, female representation in leading or co-leading roles reached a historic record of 54% among top-grossing films. However, this plummeted to 29% in 2025, the lowest share since 2018.