Change didn’t happen overnight. It started with auteurs who dared to look deeper.

It would be naive to declare complete victory. The industry still suffers from a "gender and age" gap. According to recent San Diego State University studies, while roles for women over 40 have increased, women over 60 still represent less than 10% of major characters. Actresses of color over 50 face a double barrier; while Viola Davis (58) and Angela Bassett (65) are icons, they remain exceptions rather than the rule. There is still a tendency to typecast mature actresses into "wise" or "eccentric" boxes rather than messy, sexual, angry, or ethically complex characters.