Emma Thompson calls for more movies centred on older women after “ludicrous” findings

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Emma Thompson is advocating for more movies starring older women. This comes after a recent study found that there are actually more new films featuring male leads with common names than there are films led by women over a certain age.

New research from the Centre for Ageing Better shows that among the top 100 films released in 2023, 2024, and 2025, there were six lead actors named Chris, but only five lead actresses over the age of 60.

Beyond that, talking animals were said to be four times as likely to be the lead.

The charity’s campaign, called Age Without Limits, is urging filmmakers to show older women more realistically. An actress known for her roles in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and Years and Years is backing the effort.

“Women are half the population and we get older. So where are the stories about us?” Thompson said.

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As we age, we become more fascinating. I’d love to see more movies that focus on older women – we’re engaging, people can connect with us, and it’s time for us to take the leading roles. Older women don’t need anyone’s approval to be shown in films; we’re already part of life, and cinema needs to reflect that.

This research focused on films led by women, including Allelujah starring Jennifer Saunders, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 with Nia Vardalos, Book Club: The Next Chapter featuring Diane Keaton, The Substance with Demi Moore, and Freakier Friday starring Jamie Lee Curtis.

Here’s a list of recent films starring actors named Chris: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Chris Pratt), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Chris Pratt), Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (Chris Pine), The Garfield Movie (Chris Pratt), Transformers One (Chris Hemsworth), and The Zone of Interest (Christian Friedel).

Dr. Carole Easton, CEO of the Centre for Ageing Better, responded to their research findings by saying it’s frankly absurd that so few recent films feature older women as leading characters.

She explained that a significant portion – up to one in five – of UK cinema audiences are people aged 55 and over, who collectively spend a huge amount of money on movie tickets each year. However, older actors are rarely cast in leading roles, which she feels is disrespectful considering how many older women regularly go to the cinema. This issue extends beyond film, she added, noting that older women’s contributions are often overlooked or undervalued in media, workplaces, and public life in general.

We need to challenge ageism, especially how it combines with sexism, by letting media creators know we want to see stories that reflect all ages and stages of life in the movies, music, and books we enjoy.

A recent survey found that 33% of people want to see more movies starring women over 60, and 20% would like to see more films with men in the same age group.

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2026-05-25 13:19