Women over 40 and 50 are increasingly sweeping major awards. Notable winners include Frances McDormand ( Nomadland ), Michelle Yeoh ( Everything Everywhere All at Once ), and Jean Smart ( Hacks ).

Critics identify several recurring portrayals that research indicates are often disconnected from reality:

A 2021 Nielsen report noted that while women over 50 make up 20% of the population, they appear on television only 8% of the time . Common Stereotypes & Tropes

Recent studies and critical reviews reveal a dual reality of progress and persistent bias: