When it comes to women’s roles in the entertainment industry, Hollywood has a serious case of ageism. According to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, only 15 percent of leading film roles in 2013 were portrayed by women. Even worse, this statistic is lower than it was in 1998, which means Hollywood has done little to close the gender gap that exists. Over the past few years, more and more actresses have spoken out about the discrimination they have experienced when being cast for roles. Here’s a list of 8 female celebrities who were considered “too old” for acting roles.
8. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhaal made headlines last year after she went public with the age discrimination she experienced in Hollywood. In an interview with The Wrap Magazine, the 38-year-old actress says she was surprised when she was told by a casting director that she was “too old” to be the love interest of a 55 year old man. “It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh.” Despite this frustrating experience, Gyllenhaal remains optimistic that more roles will be available for women. “I don’t feel despairing at all. And I’m more looking with hope for something fascinating.”
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