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: Representation for women in leading or co-leading roles dropped to 37.0% in 2025 , returning to 2022 levels.

The state of mature women in entertainment and cinema as of early 2026 presents a dual narrative: a cultural "golden age" for established stars alongside a statistical "regression" in broader representation. While audiences are increasingly vocal about their desire for authentic aging narratives, industry-wide progress has faced significant setbacks over the last year.

: A pronounced drop-off in roles occurs for women once they hit 40. In 2024 and 2025, 60% of major female characters in broadcast and streaming were in their 20s and 30s, while the majority of male characters were in their 30s and 40s.

: The number of women directors on the top 100 films fell to 10.1% in 2025 , the lowest share since 2018. 2. Leading Figures and Industry "Exceptions"

Established stars continue to defy general industry trends, often by taking on producer roles to greenlight their own projects.