“I think that I started hating my body when I was about 14.” In a recent Hollywood event, something truly intimate and unexpected happened that left everyone astonished. Emma Thompson, the 63-year-old actress, made a bold and empowering appearance, defying ageist stereotypes and challenging conventional beauty norms.
Older people are frequently overlooked in movies.
According to SAG, actors who are 40 or older had only about a third of the acting jobs in films and TV shows. But the numbers were much worse for older women compared to men. They said that 37% of all guys cast in movies and TV shows were 40 or older, while only 24% of the ladies in those shows were in that age group.
The difference is even more significant when it comes to leading roles. SAG found that only 21% of the main female characters were over 40, while 34% of the main male characters were that age. Another example of Hollywood’s mistreatment of older bodies is when in scary movies like X, older people without clothes are used to make the audience feel uneasy or scared.
Several stars have spoken about this issue.
Many famous stars have raised their voices against ageism in the entertainment industry, and they’ve also criticized the unrealistic beauty expectations they’ve had to deal with. Esteemed actors such as Julianne Moore, Jessica Lange, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Winslet have openly discussed the challenges of age discrimination in Hollywood.
Their efforts have sparked meaningful conversations about the need for more diverse and authentic representations of people of all ages on screen. Notably, Kate Winslet’s stand against unrealistic body standards is evident in her refusal to allow the director of Mare of Easttown to edit her belly in an intimate scene. This bold move further underscores the importance of portraying natural and genuine bodies in media.
Emma Thompson decided to show how a real older body looks like.
Emma Thompson’s courageous decision to portray an authentic older body unclothed in the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande speaks volumes about the prevailing issues of body image and ageism. She reflects, “It’s very challenging to be nude at 62, especially in a world where nothing has changed in the dreadful demands made on women to look a certain way.”
Thompson shares, “I realized that if I’m not near any mirrors and I look down at my body, it looks fine. I can see my toes, and it doesn’t look horrible. But as soon as I look in a mirror, I see nothing but flaws. It was definitely an interesting thing to experiment with.” Through her insights, Emma Thompson advocates for more authentic, compassionate, and diverse representations of older bodies in cinema.
Many other Hollywood’s beloved actors have opened up about the journey of aging in the glamorous yet challenging world of entertainment. In a candid collection of experiences, these stars share their triumphs, struggles, and insights on breaking through age-related barriers.
Dolly Parton was criticized for looking “cheap” and “ugly,” but she has responded.
Dolly Parton has enjoyed a long and incredibly successful career in the spotlight.
Her talents have spanned decades and styles, making her a constant presence in the entertainment industry for as long as we can remember.
Despite her legendary status, she still has to deal with critics. Recently, some people have been giving her a hard time about her looks, even though she’s nearing her eighties.
Dolly Parton, 77, is a well-known name in both country music and the celebrity world.
The Tennessee native is a true legend and has loved entertaining her fans throughout her long career.
In a recent interview with Pollystar, Dolly explained that she won’t be touring anymore. She said:
“I’ll do special shows here and there, maybe a long weekend of shows or a few at a festival. But I have no plans to do a full tour anymore,” Dolly Parton said.
Dolly, who rose to the top of the entertainment world after growing up in poverty in the Appalachian Mountains, will definitely be missed on stage.
Despite her undeniable popularity, some people still criticize Dolly Parton for her appearance.
In fact, her appearance has been a topic of criticism since the start of her career. Dolly has even mentioned that people used to tell her to change her signature look if she wanted a serious career.
“The main advice people gave me was to change my look—simplify my hair and the way I dress,” she explained.
“They would say I looked too cheap and that no one would ever take me seriously.”
Over the years, the mean comments haven’t stopped. Some people feel even more justified in labeling Dolly unfairly.
One Twitter user wrote, “Dolly Parton is one ugly lady,” while another said, “Dolly Parton is so ugly, but she has nice breasts.”
Despite the unkind comments online, Dolly stays positive. She is comfortable with her body and looks, and she isn’t about to change for anyone.
“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,” she once famously said.
Regarding her husband, Dolly has shared that he loves her no matter what.
“He doesn’t care if I’m fat,” Dolly said. “He’s fool enough to think I’m the sexiest, prettiest woman in the world.”
Dolly is always eager for new challenges. According to Rolling Stone, she’s ready to embrace her 2022 entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by creating an album that might be outside her usual style.
Fans were thrilled when it was announced that Dolly was being considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, Dolly herself was initially hesitant, believing that, since her career was mostly in country music, others might be more deserving of the honor.
In the end, the voters decided that Dolly belonged in the Hall of Fame. In November, she was inducted and immediately began working to prove that she deserved the recognition.
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