h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is it just me, or are the older actresses, especially British, getting a better share in the big films at the moment? I'm talking about Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Emily Watson... Time was (or so I am told) women could expect to be dropped unceremoniously and permanently from the showbiz set when their first wrinkle appeared.

Could just be that at that satge in their careers they are getting chosen for real acting ability and not simply because they are good looking.

That should be "stage" (we are talking about acting, after all).

Having thought about it, I think it may be part of the same rush that sent big stage actors like Ken Brannagh, Christopher Lee and Ian McKellen into every blockbuster going. They all seem to have abandoned their snobbishness (at least off-camera).

Most of the 'older' actresses who are doing well in films are English. I can't think of many 'older' American actresses who are appearing in films at the moment. Do American actresses give up when they hit 60, or do the directors give up on them? (Before somebody mentions Jessica Tandy, she was English.)

So at the moment, they may be getting 20% of the parts they deserve, instead of 10% of the parts they deserve...

Hooray, they've doubled their visibility !!!

But there's still a long way to go

Azara

i think it's more to do with the fact that there are older women characters. notice that there still aren't many parts for women in, say there forty's. it's either old or young, with very little in the middle unles they look young.

you'll always have grandmother parts.

I think it was Sharon Stone that says that Hollywood has three ages of woman: Babe, D.A. and "Driving Miss Daisy". She's pretty much right. Young actresses are often seen as 'romantic interest' (to put it politely!), there's not much for actresses in their 30s - 40s, and then they get 'character' parts when they hit their 50s - 60s.

Maybe there are too many movie stars, and less younger actors who can actually *act* these days?

There's a huge difference I've seen between btrit TV and Movies and US TV and Movies.

Brit actors = talent
US actors = name/face

Well that's my observation from a place that gets productions from both places but is neither place.

Renee Russo is in her forties and still making films.

There are American actresses who have survived and gone on to do well.

Meryl Streep and Shirley McLaine have graciously moved up into the next generation with grace and elegance and play their parts with talent and chuzpah. Those who weren't worth it have fallen - and rightly so - by the wayside. Helen Hunt is also heading for grandmother status, I would guess (hope that's not an insult).

As far as English actresses are concerned, you haven't yet mentioned Vanessa Redgrave (for example, she was big in the first Tom Cruise Mission Impossible)

Of the young actresses of today who may make a name for themselves when they get older I would propose Uma Thurman, and possibly Halle Berry. Other names escape me for the moment.

By the way, although I have been thinking about this subject for a while, the film that prompted me to post about it was 'Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, which has three American women (whose names I can't remember) and Maggie Smith.

Funny you should mention that film. The poster caught my eye in the cinema the other day. One of the women is Sandra Bullock. Is the film any good?

I enjoyed it, which is reasonably surprising as it's not really my kind of film. Actually, I remembered Sandra Bullock, but didn't count her because she's the 'young one'. There is a group of four older ladies, one of whom was Maggie Smith. Hooray for Maggie Smith!

I wish Zoe Wanamaker got more parts.I think she is terrific.

Incog.