The most important change is behind the camera.

While Hollywood is playing catch-up, international cinema has often been kinder to older actresses. French cinema has long celebrated the "femme d’un certain âge." Isabelle Huppert (70) continues to play leads in psychological thrillers ( Elle ) that would be written for a 35-year-old in America. Japanese cinema venerates its elder actresses (such as Kirin Kiki, who worked until her death at 75), often placing them at the spiritual center of family dramas.

: While progress is being made, there is a push for greater diversity among mature roles, which currently often favor white, middle-class, and able-bodied characters. Titans of the Screen Women Over 50: The Right to be Seen on Screen

: Mature women are frequently portrayed as "sad widows" or homebound. They are four times more likely to be depicted as "senile" or frail compared to their male counterparts. Focus on Aging

We would be remiss to claim victory yet. While white actresses over 40 are seeing a renaissance, actresses of color in the same age bracket are still fighting for the same three roles (the wise grandmother, the strict judge, the mystical healer). The industry needs to catch up to the fact that "mature woman" is not a monolith.