🔗 Share this article

Women are rallying in defence of Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones following she faced criticism across platforms over her looks following a industry function.

The actor was present at an industry gathering in Los Angeles last month during which an online segment featuring her role in season two of Wednesday was overshadowed because of discussion concerning her looks.

Voices of Support

Laura White, 58, called the backlash "absolute rubbish", noting that "men don't have this expiration date which women face".

"Males escape this expiration date imposed on women," argued the pageant winner.

Author Sali Hughes, 50, stated unlike men, women were subject to unfair scrutiny growing older and Zeta-Jones should be at liberty to look as she wishes.

Online Reaction

In the video, which was also posted on Facebook and had more than 2.5m views, the actor, who is from Wales, discussed the pleasure of portraying her role, Morticia Addams, in the latest season.

However many of the hundreds of comments centered on her years and were negative towards her appearance.

The negative remarks sparked significant support of the actor, including a popular post from one Facebook user which stated: "People criticize females when they get cosmetic procedures and attack them when they don't have enough."

Online users came to her defence, as one put it: "She is ageing naturally and she looks beautiful."

Others described her as "stunning" and "lovely", with another adding that "she appears her age - that is life."

Making a Point

She appeared on air earlier with a bare face to make a statement and to show that there is no fixed "blueprint" of how a female in her 50s ought to appear.

As with others of her years, she said she "looks after herself" not to look younger but so she feels "well" and be "in good health".

"Getting older represents a privilege and if we can do it the best we can, that is what truly counts," she added.

She contended that men were not judged by equivalent beauty standards, stating "nobody scrutinizes how old Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones might be - they only look 'fantastic'."

She explained that became a key factor she entered Miss Great Britain's category for women over 45, to "show that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "possess it".

A Fundamental Problem

The author, a writer and commentator from Wales, said that although Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" it was "not the point", adding she deserves to be able to appear however she liked free from her years coming under examination.

Hughes argued the online abuse showed that no female is "protected" and that females should not face the "ongoing theme" that they are insufficient or young enough - an issue that is "galling, regardless of the person involved".

Asked if males encounter identical criticism, she said "no, never", adding females are criticized just for demonstrating the "audacity" to live on the internet while growing older.

An Impossible Standard

Even with the wellness sector advocating for "longevity", the author stated women were still judged whether they aged without intervention or opted for procedures like cosmetic surgery or injections.

"Should you grow older without intervention, people say more could be done; if you get treatments, you are criticized for not aging gracefully enough," she remarked further.