The pressures that come hand-in-hand with being in the film and entertainment industry are well-documented.
Women, in particular, almost always fall victim to age discrimination — with there being decidedly fewer roles available as they grow older.
In fact, a 2019 study found that women over 50 are usually relegated to supporting roles in films — or are otherwise portrayed as "grumpy, and frumpy".
Some figures in Hollywood, however, have been outspoken about ageism. From Jennifer Aniston to Maggie Gyllenhall, here are eight celebrities who wouldn't stand for comments about their age.
1. Bebe Rexha
In August of 2019, American pop star, Bebe Rexha, took to social media to reveal that a male music executive told her that she was "too old" for posting "sexy pics".
Sharing a black and white snap of her in underwear, she captioned the clap back: "I recently had a MALE music executive tell me that I was getting too old and that my brand was confusing. Because...I’m a songwriter and I post sexy pics on my Instagram and that’s not what female songwriters are supposed to do, especially for my age. I’m 29. I’m fed up with being put in a box. I make my own rules."
"I’m tired of women getting labeled as 'hags' when they get old and guys get labeled as sexy with age," she continued.
Rexha added that she wasn't fearful of turning 30, and wants to embrace aging as something positive.
"Anyways, I’m turning 30 on August 30 and you know what, I’m not running away from it. I’m not gonna lie about my age or sing songs that I feel will sell better because they sound 'younger.' I’m gonna celebrate my age because you know what, I’m wiser, I’m stronger and TRUST ME I’m a much better lover than I was 10 years ago [sic]."
2. Carrie Fisher
The late Carrie Fisher is known for playing Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy — and over the years she had to contend with being pitted across her co-stars, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford.
It's, of course, deeply sexist.
So, back in December of 2015, Fisher issued an epic response after some people on Twitter criticized her appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
"Please stop debating about whether OR not I aged well. Unfortunately, it hurts all of my feelings. My BODY hasn't aged as well as I have. Blow us," she wrote. "My body is my brain bag, it hauls me around to those places & in front of faces where there's something to say or see.
"Youth&BeautyR/NOT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, they're theTEMPORARY happy/BiProducts/of Time&/or DNA/Dont Hold yourBreath4either/ifUmust holdAir/takeGarys," which is squashed to save characters, so allow us to translate: "Youth and beauty are not accomplishments—they're the temporary happy byproducts of time and/or DNA. Don't hold your breath for either. If you might hold air take Gary's [sic.]"
3. Jennifer Aniston
Friends alum, Jennifer Aniston, has been candid about how aging is perceived in the industry.
Back in 2019, the 52-year-old told InStyle:
"Fifty was the first time I thought, 'Well, that number.' I don't know what it is because I don't feel any different. Things aren't shutting down in any way. I feel physically incredible. So it's weird that it's all of a sudden getting telegraphed in a way that's like, 'You look amazing for your age.' I think we need to establish some etiquette around that dialogue and verbiage."
4. Nicole Kidman
At the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Big Little Lies star, Nicole Kidman, used her acceptance speech to speak about the ageism that is rampant in Hollywood.
Citing actresses like Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Judi Dench, and Susan Sarandon, Kidman said, "I want to thank you all for your trailblazing performances you have given over your career and how wonderful it is that our careers today can go beyond 40 years old."
"Twenty years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives, so that's not the case now," she continued.
"I just beg that the industry stays behind us because our stories are finally being told. It's only the beginning, and I'm so proud to be a part of a community that is instigating this change.
"But I implore the writers, directors, studios, and financiers to put passion and money behind our stories. We have proven that we can do this; we can continue to do this, but only with the support of this industry and that money and passion."
5. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhall revealed back in 2015 that she was once told by producers that she was "too old" to play the love interest of a 55-year-old man. The Secretary actress was just 37-years-old at the time.
"It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh," she commented during the interview, as per The Guardian.
6. Madonna
In an interview with Vogue UK, pop icon, Madonna, spoke out about the stereotypes and assumptions that come with turning 60.
"People have always been trying to silence me for one reason or another, whether it's that I'm not pretty enough, I don't sing well enough, I'm not talented enough, I'm not married enough, and now it's that I'm not young enough," she told the publication. "Now I'm fighting ageism, now I'm being punished for turning 60."
7. Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson comes from a pretty prestigious family; her mother is Melanie Griffith and her grandmother is Tippi Hedren.
Speaking to Vogue UK back in 2016, she opened up about how age discrimination has affected her family over the years.
"Why isn't my mother in movies? She's an extraordinary actress! Why isn't my grandmother in movies? This industry is brutal," she asserted.
"No matter how tough you are, sometimes there's the feeling of not being wanted. It's absurd and cut-throat. Whenever I have downtime, I'm unsure that I will ever work again. I don't know what it is, but it's a definite thing that happens to me."
8. Heidi Klum
During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres show in 2018, the model asked the host: "Why do we always have to see twenty-year-olds or thirty-year-olds doing campaigns?
"Sometimes people say, 'You're 44, you're turning 45. Why are you not giving the baton to someone else?' she continued. "But I always think there are a lot of women my age, fifties, sixties, seventies, what? Do we have an expiration date? Can we not also still feel sexy?"
