: A 2019 study of top-grossing films in several major markets (US, UK, France, Germany) found zero leading roles for women over 50, whereas men over 50 were represented as leads. Common Stereotypes and Archetypes
: Historically, female characters have often begun to disappear from screen around age 40. On broadcast programs, the presence of major female characters drops from 42% for those in their 30s to just 15% for those in their 40s.
: Even as visibility increases, older men still significantly outnumber older women on screen. Approximately 80% of film characters over 50 are male, compared to just 20% who are female.