It’s no secret that Hollywood has a strange obsession with youth.
In fact, the pressure to be young is so great that celebs even lie about their age. For instance, rumor has it that Rebel Wilson has claimed to be younger than she really is.
But the inappropriate obsession with age has gone a little to far for Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Maggie was recently informed that, as a 37-year-old woman, she was “too old to play the lover of a man who is 55” in a movie.
Ummmmm, that means that Gyllenhaal is 18 years younger and still too old???
Maggie told The Wrap: "It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh.”
Gyllenhall handled the situation gracefully. he even expressed excitement for her fellow actresses’ work:
"A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women. I don’t feel despairing at all. And I’m more looking with hope for something fascinating,” she said.
Maggie would not disclose what movie she had auditioned for. But we can bet it is a movie with an old dude and a young girl. Be on the lookout.
Oh wait, that’s every movie.
Hollywood has scrutinized women’s appearance and age for years.
Generally, men in Hollywood become “more attractive” as they grow older. However, women’s careers fade out as they age. Clearly, there is a double standard.
According to TV Guide, a few years ago, Vulture released a series of infographics that demonstrated how leading male actors in Hollywood mature, but their female co-stars remain the same age.
Hollywood is probably a long ways from making a complete change, but there is pushback for women in film.
The ACLU just announced it is preparing a petition in response to reports about the lack of female directors.