Mature women behind the camera face similar "ageing out" hurdles.
A 2025 study found that of films with a woman 40+ in a leading role, only 6% even mentioned menopause , and most of those references were used for humor rather than authentic storytelling. Streaming vs. Broadcast: A Divergence de bella milf
Only 12% of 2025 feature films were written by women over 40. Experts from The Writers Lab argue that complex roles for older actresses cannot exist if the writers themselves are being excluded from the industry as they age. Mature women behind the camera face similar "ageing
Research from the Geena Davis Institute (GDI) and the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film highlights a sharp decline in opportunities as women age compared to their male counterparts. Broadcast: A Divergence Only 12% of 2025 feature
Streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime have been pivotal in showcasing complex midlife narratives, as seen in series like Hacks and Mare of Easttown .
In 2025, women accounted for only 23% of key behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, editors) in the top 250 films—the same figure as in 2020.