🔗 Share this article

There is a groundswell of support behind Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she encountered scrutiny online over her looks during a red carpet appearance.

The actor was present at an industry gathering in Hollywood on 9 November during which a social media clip about her part in the latest Wednesday was overshadowed due to remarks concerning her age.

Voices of Support

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, called the backlash "utter foolishness", noting that "males escape this expiration date which women face".

"Men don't have this sell-by/use-by date which women face," argued Laura White.

Beauty journalist aged 50, Sali Hughes, commented unlike men, females are criticized as they age and the actor deserves to be at liberty to appear however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

In the video, uploaded to Facebook and attracted over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, hailing from Mumbles, Swansea, discussed the pleasure of delving into her character, Morticia Addams, in the new episodes.

Yet many of the online responses centered on her age and were negative towards her appearance.

The negative remarks sparked significant support of the actor, including a widely-shared clip from a social media user which said: "People criticize women for having cosmetic procedures and attack them if they avoid sufficient procedures."

Commenters also rallied in support, as one put it: "This is ageing naturally and she is stunning."

Others described her as "beautiful" and "lovely", with another adding that "her appearance reflects her years - which is simply life."

A Statement Arrival

She appeared for her interview earlier makeup-free to "prove a point" and to demonstrate the absence of a "template" of how a female in midlife is supposed to look.

Similar to numerous females in her demographic, she said she "takes care of herself" not to appear younger but in order to feel "well" and look "healthy".

"Getting older represents an honour and when we live gracefully, this is what really matters," she continued.

She contended that males are not subject to identical aesthetic benchmarks, adding "people don't ask the age of certain male celebrities might be - they just appear 'fantastic'."

She said it was a key factor she entered Miss Great Britain's category for women over 45, in order to demonstrate that midlife women continue to exist" and "possess it".

A Fundamental Problem

Sali Hughes, a journalist of Welsh origin, stated that while Zeta-Jones was "stunning" it was "irrelevant", adding she deserves to be free to look in any way she chooses absent her age coming under examination.

Hughes argued the social media vitriol showed not a single woman is "immune" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "constant narrative" that they are lacking or young enough - a problem that is "infuriating, regardless of the individual targeted".

Asked if men face equivalent judgment, she answered "not at all", noting females are targeted merely for showing "boldness" to be present online while growing older.

An Impossible Standard

Regardless of the beauty industry advocating for "age-defiance", she commented females are still criticised whether they aged without intervention or chose interventions such as cosmetic surgery or injectables.

"Should you grow older naturally, others claim more could be done; if you get work done, you are criticized for failing to age well," she added.