🔗 Share this article

Females are uniting in defence of acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced scrutiny on social media over her looks at a recent industry event.

The actor was present at a promotional function in LA last month during which an online segment discussing her character in the latest the 'Wednesday' show became dominated because of comments about her appearance.

Widespread Backing

Laura White, 58, labelled the negative reaction "absolute rubbish", noting that "men aren't given this expiration date which women face".

"Men don't have such a timeline which women face," argued the pageant winner.

Writer and commentator Sali Hughes, 50, said in contrast to men, women were criticized growing older and Zeta-Jones should be free to appear however she liked.

Online Reaction

During the interview, uploaded to social media and had millions of views, Zeta-Jones, originally from Mumbles, Swansea, discussed her enjoyment in exploring her character, the Addams Family matriarch, in season two.

Yet a large portion of the online responses centered on her years and were critical regarding her appearance.

The online backlash sparked a broad defence for Zeta-Jones, including a widely-shared clip online which stated: "There is criticism for females if they undergo treatments and criticize them for not having enough."

Commenters also came to her defence, one stating: "It's called growing older naturally and she is beautiful."

Others described her as "beautiful" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she appears her age - that's called the natural process."

A Statement Arrival

Ms White arrived at the studio earlier makeup-free as a demonstration and to show the absence of a "template" for what a woman of a certain age should look like.

As with others of her years, she stated she "looks after herself" not to look younger but to feel "improved" and look "vibrant".

"Growing older is a gift and if we can do it gracefully, that is what truly counts," she added.

She argued that men aren't held to identical beauty standards, adding "nobody scrutinizes how old certain male celebrities are - they simply appear 'fantastic'."

She said that became a key factor for entering the competition for women over 45, to prove that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "possess it".

A Fundamental Problem

Hughes, an author and presenter from Wales, said that although the actor is "stunning" that is "irrelevant", adding she ought to be at liberty to appear in any way she chooses free from her years being scrutinised.

Hughes argued the online abuse demonstrated not a single woman is "exempt" and that females should not face the "constant narrative" that they are insufficient or young enough - a problem that is "infuriating, no matter who the victim is".

When asked if men experience the same scrutiny, she said "no, never", explaining women were criticized merely for having the "boldness" to live on social media while aging.

An Impossible Standard

Despite cosmetic companies advocating for "youthful longevity", she commented women were still face criticism if they age without intervention or chose interventions including plastic surgery or injections.

"If you age gracefully, people say you should do more; when you have treatments, you are criticized for failing to age well," she added.