🔗 Share this article

Women are rallying in defence of Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones after she faced criticism online over her appearance at a recent red carpet appearance.

The actor was present at a promotional function in Hollywood last month where a social media clip featuring her part in the latest Wednesday was eclipsed due to discussion concerning her appearance.

A Chorus of Defence

Laura White, 58, described the negative reaction "complete nonsense", stating that "men aren't given this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women".

"Men don't have this expiration date that women do," argued Laura White.

Beauty journalist aged 50, Sali Hughes, commented unlike men, females are unfairly judged for ageing and the actor deserves to be free to look however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

During the interview, which was also posted on Facebook and attracted more than 2.5m views, the actor, who is from Wales, talked about her enjoyment in exploring her character, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

Yet a significant number of the numerous remarks centered on her years and were negative towards her appearance.

The negative remarks sparked significant support of the actor, such as a viral video from a social media user which stated: "You bully females when they get too much work done and criticize them if they avoid enough work."

Others also spoke up for her, with one writing: "This is growing older naturally and she appears gorgeous."

Many labelled her as "gorgeous" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she appears her age - which is simply the natural process."

Making a Point

Ms White arrived for her interview recently with a bare face as a demonstration and to highlight the absence of a "blueprint" of how a woman in midlife ought to appear.

Like many women her age, she said she "maintains her wellbeing" not to look younger but in order to feel "improved" and appear "vibrant".

"Getting older represents a privilege and provided we do it as well as possible, that's what is important," she stated further.

She argued that men aren't subject to identical aesthetic benchmarks, stating "nobody scrutinizes the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they just are described as 'wonderful'."

She said this was one of the reasons she entered Miss Great Britain's category for over-45s, to "show that females of a certain age continue to exist" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

Hughes, a journalist from Wales, said that although the actor is "gorgeous" that is "irrelevant", adding she deserves to be at liberty to appear however she liked free from her years being scrutinised.

Hughes argued the social media vitriol showed that no female is "protected" and that women do not deserve the "perpetual story" that they are not good enough or of the right age - an issue that is "infuriating, no matter the person involved".

Questioned on whether males encounter equivalent judgment, she responded "not at all", explaining females are criticized just for showing "audacity" to exist online as they age.

A Double Bind

Regardless of cosmetic companies emphasizing "longevity", Hughes said women were still criticised if they age naturally or opted for procedures like surgical procedures or injections.

"If you age gracefully, people say more could be done; if you get treatments, you are criticized for trying too hard," she remarked further.