: Older female characters are frequently relegated to supporting roles and often depicted using ageist tropes like being "grumpy, frumpy, or senile". They are also 4x more likely than older men to be portrayed as mentally or physically frail.
These films are noted for placing mature women at the center of their own narratives rather than in secondary roles: Beyond the Stereotypes: The Reality of Aging Women in Films
: While women over 50 make up 20% of the population, they only account for roughly 8% of onscreen time on television. Research indicates they are significantly less likely to be seen on screen compared to their male peers.
A growing movement, sometimes called a "heyday" for veteran actresses, has seen more mature women taking lead roles that celebrate their agency and sexuality.
Representation of mature women (typically defined as ages 40–50+) in entertainment and cinema is a complex landscape of persistent underrepresentation, recurring stereotypes, and recent "heyday" shifts toward more authentic storytelling.