| Metric | 2010-2015 | 2020-2025 | Change | |--------|-----------|-----------|--------| | % of female leads over 45 (top 100 films) | 12% | 24% | +100% | | % of female characters over 40 with identifiable career/job | 18% | 41% | +128% | | Female-led films over 50 with budget >$20M (per year) | 3-4 | 12-15 | +300% |

For decades, Elena Vargas was a beloved star of Latin American telenovelas. By her mid-50s, offers had dried up. Casting directors saw her as “the mother of the protagonist” or “the wise aunt,” and even those roles grew scarce. She felt invisible.

By placing mature women at the center of the frame, entertainment is not only correcting a historical wrong but is also creating richer, more resonant art. It is a reminder that while youth is a gift of nature, age is a work of art.

Research - Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film