Emma Thompson questions ‘ageism’ in women: ‘Where are stories about us’

Dame Emma Thompson, an award-winning actress just criticized the “ageism” and “sexism” that she believes still dominate modern cinema after a study revealed that movies starring male actors named Chris are more common than films led by women over 60.

The research, which was conducted by the Centre for Ageing Better, examined the UK’s 100 highest-grossing movies released between 2023 and 2025 and it found that six films featured a male lead named Chris, while only five starred actresses over the age of 60 in leading roles.

Reacting to the findings, the 67-year-old eagerly questioned why older women remain so underrepresented on screen despite making up a large and considerable part of society.

“Women are half the population, and we get older. So where are the stories about us?” she said.

The actress also said that ageing women often become “more interesting” with time and deserve to be placed at the centre of more narratives.

Among the actresses over 60 who have led major films include Jennifer Saunders, Diane Keaton, Demi Moore, and the scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis.

Meanwhile, the “Chris” category included Chris Pratt, Chris Pine, and Chris Hemsworth, all of whom appeared in several major box office hits during the period studied.

Perhaps the most surprising detail from the report, however, was that films led by talking animals were reportedly four times more common than films centred around older women, further highlighting what critics describe as a major representation gap in mainstream cinema.