Gay Actresses Who Faced Ageism

Hollywood has long struggled with its treatment of women over a certain age. This issue becomes even more complex when intersectionality regarding sexual orientation is involved. Many talented performers have spoken out about the dwindling opportunities or unfair scrutiny they face as they mature. The following list highlights gay and queer actresses who have navigated or confronted ageism in the entertainment industry.

Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis famously starred in the original ‘Top Gun’ but did not return for the massive sequel. She frankly stated that she was not asked back because she looked her age and was not willing to alter her appearance. The actress noted that the industry prioritizes a specific youthful look that she no longer embodies. Her comments sparked a wider conversation about how male stars are allowed to age while their female counterparts are replaced.

Holland Taylor

Holland Taylor has enjoyed a prolific career but faced scrutiny regarding her relationship with a much younger partner. She has frequently addressed the double standards applied to older women who date younger people compared to men. The actress continues to work steadily but often comments on the limited scope of roles for women in their seventies and eighties. Her visibility challenges the notion that older women disappear from the romantic or public sphere.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson has defended her choices and her partner against ageist criticism from the public and media. She noted that people found her relationship with an older woman perplexing and often offensive due to ingrained ageist beliefs. Paulson argues that society has a grim view of aging that devalues the experiences of older women. She actively chooses roles that defy traditional beauty standards and highlight complex female dynamics.

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster transitioned heavily into directing partly due to the changing landscape of acting roles for women as they age. She has spoken about the liberation of playing characters who are not objects of desire but rather full human beings. Foster admitted that her fifties were a difficult transition period in her career. She now embraces playing older characters and mentors younger women in the industry to navigate these systemic issues.

Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin revitalized the conversation around aging with her hit series ‘Grace and Frankie’. The show specifically tackled issues like health scares and retirement homes and being invisible to society. Tomlin has spent decades advocating for women in comedy where ageism acts as a significant barrier to entry and longevity. She proves that audiences are eager for stories about women in their seventies and eighties.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon faced intense backlash when her character in ‘And Just Like That’ stopped dyeing her hair. Critics focused heavily on the physical aging of the cast rather than the plotlines. Nixon defended the decision by stating that women should be allowed to age naturally without public scorn. She highlighted how the criticism of their appearance overshadowed the actual work they were producing.

Miriam Margolyes

Miriam Margolyes has been vocal about the typecasting she faces as an older character actress. She often jokes that she has been playing grandmothers since she was in her twenties due to her appearance. The actress criticizes the industry for ignoring the sexual and emotional lives of older women. Her candid interviews frequently expose the rudeness and dismissal older women face in show business.

Rosie O’Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell has dealt with criticism regarding her weight and age throughout her decades in the spotlight. She pivoted from film to television hosting as movie roles became scarce for women fitting her description. O’Donnell often speaks about the freedom that comes with no longer trying to fit a youthful ideal. She uses her platform to normalize the appearance of average women in their fifties and sixties.

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch found massive success later in life but acknowledges the narrow box older women are placed in. She has discussed how Hollywood comedy often relies on making older women the butt of the joke. Lynch actively seeks characters that are authoritative and competent rather than just eccentric or out of touch. She advocates for more diverse representation of age in mainstream television.

Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes incorporates the physical and social realities of aging into her stand-up routines. She addresses how the industry views black queer women of a certain age as invisible. Sykes fights to create her own content to ensure she has a voice as she gets older. Her comedy specials provide a raw and hilarious look at the medical and social indignities of aging.

Meredith Baxter

Meredith Baxter came out later in life and faced the challenge of restarting her narrative as an older woman. She noted that the industry was confused by her identity shift after decades of playing traditional mother roles. Baxter found that opportunities dwindled not just because of her sexuality but combined with her age. She wrote a memoir to reclaim her story from an industry that often discards older actresses.

Fiona Shaw

Fiona Shaw has transitioned from leading romantic stage roles to playing formidable matriarchs and spies. She has commented on the freedom of playing characters like Carolyn Martens who are defined by their intellect rather than their youth. Shaw believes that television has become a better sanctuary for older actresses than film. She continues to push for roles that show older women as dangerous and powerful.

Sandra Bernhard

Sandra Bernhard has always operated on the fringes of Hollywood and critiques its obsession with youth. She discusses how the counter-culture scene is more accepting of aging than the mainstream movie machine. Bernhard maintains her relevance by performing live shows that directly address her life experience. She refuses to soften her edge or her look to appease executives looking for younger talent.

Cherry Jones

Cherry Jones is a titan of the theater who found film roles limited until she reached a certain bracket of seniority. She has accepted that Hollywood often does not know what to do with women who do not fit a glamor archetype. Jones focuses on character work that allows her to use her age as an asset for authority figures. She remains a staunch advocate for the complexity of older female characters.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore identifies as bisexual and has spent her entire life in the public eye. She recently spoke out against the pressure to resort to plastic surgery to maintain a youthful facade. Barrymore argues that the fight against aging is a losing battle that robs women of their dignity. She uses her talk show to promote natural aging and self-acceptance.

Maria Bello

Maria Bello has written about the fluidity of labels and the rigidity of Hollywood age standards. She noted that actresses are often forced into the background once they pass the age of forty. Bello has shifted towards producing and writing to ensure she has control over her career path. She advocates for storytelling that reflects the reality of women in midlife.

Linda Hunt

Linda Hunt has faced unique challenges due to her stature and her age throughout her career. She found a long-term home on television which offered her stability that film often denied older character actors. Hunt brought gravitas to her roles that only an actor of her tenure could provide. Her presence on screen challenged the conventional look of authority figures in police procedurals.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie has been open about her bisexuality and her decision to embrace the aging process. She publicly discussed her menopause and the physical changes she underwent after preventative surgeries. Jolie stated that she welcomes being in her fifties because it signifies survival and wisdom. She rejects the industry pressure to appear younger than she is.

Sara Gilbert

Sara Gilbert grew up on television and faced the awkward transition from child star to adult actress. She created ‘The Talk’ to provide a platform for women to discuss issues including aging and motherhood. Gilbert revived her most famous role to show the reality of a working-class woman aging in America. She continues to produce content that highlights gritty and realistic female perspectives.

Which of these actresses do you think has had the biggest impact on changing the narrative around aging in Hollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments.