A new study out of the United Kingdom found that out of the top films from the past three years at the U.K. box office, movies are more likely to feature a lead actor named Chris than a female lead actor over the age of 60. The Age Without Limits survey found that films are also four times more likely to have a talking animal as the lead character than a female actor over the age of 60.
Looking at the 100 highest-grossing films in 2023, 2024 and 2025, six featured a man named Chris in the lead, while just five starred a woman over 60.
Oscar-winning actor Emma Thompson supports the Age Without Limits campaign, which is calling on the film industry to have better representation of older women in film.
“Women are half the population and we get older. So where are the stories about us? The older we get, the more interesting we are. I want to see more films center aging women, we are compelling, relatable, and overdue for center stage. Older women don’t need permission to exist on screen. They already exist in the world, cinema just needs to catch up,” Thompson said in a statement to Age Without Limits.
The study named five films released in the U.K. that featured a female star over 60 in the past five years: Jennifer Saunders of “Absolutely Fabulous” in “Allelujuah,” Nia Vardalos in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3,” Diane Keaton in “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” Demi Moore in “The Substance” and Jamie Lee Curtis in “Freakier Friday.”
The Age Without Limits campaign also polled the British public for their opinion on including more older women in films. When women were asked, 39% said there are not enough films being made that feature female actors over 60 as a lead character. Meanwhile 16% of people said they would be more likely to see a film featuring a female over 60 — twice the proportion that said it would make them less likely to see the film.
The research was done by a team at the University of West London School of Film, Media and Design, led by Prof Dennis A. Olsen.
