At least once a year, an actress in Hollywood will say that there are too few good roles for women over 50 in the film industry. I'm not going to dispute this, they know the scripts they get and they know what they are offered to appear in films. Meryl Streep, often considered one of the finest actors of our generation, known for selecting roles in intelligent, well made films, was in Mamma Mia, so she was clearly desperate to do something that year. What I wonder, however, is why this is the case.
It's not that these women don't have box office appeal. In last year's Red, the reaction to early trailers and press could be summed up in one very simple sentence. Helen Mirren has a machine gun. Yes, part of the novelty is that the actress who won awards for being the Queen has a machine gun, but considering the rest of the cast, it's notable that many people focused on Mirren's presence. Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, and Morgan Freeman are all big names, but they didn't get the attention. Mirren was really the main attraction, and the main reason many people were interested.
Mirren, however, is a mere 65, and that's young compared to the Associated Press' entertainer of the year for 2010, Betty White. The 88 year old actress has always been a likable presence wherever she appears, but for some reason this year people rediscovered her, which lead to more roles and a high profile hosting spot on Saturday Night Live. White is the very definition of an older woman, and it's clear that she is a draw for people of all ages.
So, what can be done to get older women the roles they deserve? Clearly people want to see them on screen, and clearly there are many talented actresses out there who deserve the work and people want to perform. Inspiration, in this case, might come from an old man, one Sylvester Stallone.
Why Stallone, of all people? Well, like the aging actresses of Hollywood, Stallone at one point found it difficult to find roles. Unlike the aging actresses of Hollywood, Stallone isn't exactly aging well - he looks like a public service announcement for the dangers of steroid abuse - so he's going to find it difficult to get roles in general. The solution, in his case, was to make his own movies, which seem to be rehashing old hits and or simply making movies about aging action stars blowing stuff up.
So, if the regular writers and filmmakers of Hollywood aren't stepping up for the talented older actresses, it's time to take inspiration from Stallone and just make up the roles for themselves. Streep, Mirren, White and the rest are all a bit more talented than Stallone, certainly have a lot more range than he does. There would be opportunity for writers and directors who want to work with these women, and audiences would get to see quality performances. These women are a draw, and if they were to get together, foster talent and make films for themselves, I believe everyone could benefit and it would help solve the problem.
Film is a youth obsessed business, but if you have a roster of talented people, it's foolish not to use them. If the current establishment is unwilling to use some of the finest actors we have, maybe it's time for someone else to take over. If they have to make their own roles, then so be it.
