“It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh,” the actress tells TheWrap
Every time we think things are getting better for women in Hollywood, something comes along to remind us — naaah.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, an Oscar nominee getting Emmy buzz for her work on the Sundance miniseries “The Honourable Woman,” revealed that she was recently turned down for a role in a movie because she was too old to play the love interest for a 55-year-old man.
No kidding.
“There are things that are really disappointing about being an actress in Hollywood that surprise me all the time,” she said during an interview for an upcoming issue of TheWrap Magazine. “I’m 37 and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55. It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh.”
Good for Gyllenhaal for having such a pungent sense of humor. Hollywood has come under severe scrutiny for the persistently low number of leading roles for women in the movies, and the ACLU recently requested that state and federal agencies investigate Hollywood studios, networks and talent agencies over gender discrimination.
The San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film found that there are fewer jobs available for leading actresses since female characters made up just 12 percent of protagonists in the top 100 domestic-grossing films of 2014. This figure is 3 percent below 2013’s study and 4 percent below the number in 2002.
Also Read: 11 Leading Ladies Who Have Spoken Out Again Ageism, Sexism in Hollywood (Photos)
Gyllenhaal declined to specify the project on which she was considered too old, but we’re wide open to suggestions. What’s casting out there with a 55-year-old leading man?
Also Read: Kristen Stewart Rips Hollywood for Sexism: 'It's So Offensive It's Crazy'
And despite the recent slam, Gyllenhaal said she was hopeful for women. “A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women,” said the actress, who won a Golden Globe in January for her role in “The Honourable Woman” as an Anglo-Israeli businesswoman. “I don’t feel despairing at all. And I’m more looking with hope for something fascinating.”
I read this yesterday, and while I'm glad she spoke out, and I completely understand the need to protect her career, I do wish people would start naming names. Anonymous allegations may be cathartic but they aren't going to move the ball.
First she was AMAZING in The Honourable Woman. And it is insane that a 37 yr old is considered 'too old' to be the love interest of someone almost 20 yrs her senior.
Post by delawarejen on May 22, 2015 11:46:42 GMT -5
Grr. Remember those stats they showed about how old the leading ladies were who played love interests to famous actors? Tom Hanks was about the only middle-aged one who consistently stars with actresses who are within 10 years of his age. (Perhaps not coincidentally, he is married to an actress who is close to him in age).
I feel like there's something in here about how this won't change no matter how long women complain about it. Unless our money talks or men make this stop, it won't.
I kind of hope that internet streaming services will make it easier and easier and easier to make and distribute shows and movies with underrepresented groups.
Orange Is The New Black is kind of like that for Netflix, right? Does anyone know who within Netflix makes the decisions on new content and if they are part of this old boys club or what?
Anyways, I hope that New Hollywood makes all kinds of interesting stories and Old Hollywood is left crying into their Cheerios because they can't get anyone into the theaters to see 55 year old men save the world for the millionth time.
Anyways, I hope that New Hollywood makes all kinds of interesting stories and Old Hollywood is left crying into their Cheerios because they can't get anyone into the theaters to see 55 year old WHITE men save the world for the millionth time.
Seriously though, how do semi-mainstream movies get made? I would sincerely like to know. Who's big in those fields? I watch so little TV and so few movies that I know almost nothing about this.
Anyways, I hope that New Hollywood makes all kinds of interesting stories and Old Hollywood is left crying into their Cheerios because they can't get anyone into the theaters to see 55 year old WHITE men save the world for the millionth time.
James Spader Colin Firth Sean Penn David Duchovony Stanley Tucci Hugh Grant
Some big names! And I shudder to think of any one of them being paired with someone much younger than Maggie.
I'm going to hope it was Sean Penn because he's nasty so while losing the role sucks at least she doesn't have to act with him which is a small consolation
Colin Firth was paired with Emma Stone in Magic in the Moonlight, it was really weird. She's what 25, 26?
It's a little weird. I adore Colin Firth, but I feel like *I* would be too young for him IRL, and I'm 33. (Not like we would ever meet and fall in love, lol.)
James Spader Colin Firth Sean Penn David Duchovony Stanley Tucci Hugh Grant
Some big names! And I shudder to think of any one of them being paired with someone much younger than Maggie.
Okay, wait. SHE PLAYED JAMES SPADER'S LOVE INTEREST IN SECRETARY! Sure, she was like 23/24 then. But it's actually a really good movie; they worked well together. And that was before James Spader went to seed, because damn if he doesn't look 72 now.
James Spader Colin Firth Sean Penn David Duchovony Stanley Tucci Hugh Grant
Some big names! And I shudder to think of any one of them being paired with someone much younger than Maggie.
Okay, wait. SHE PLAYED JAMES SPADER'S LOVE INTEREST IN SECRETARY! Sure, she was like 23/24 then. But it's actually a really good movie; they worked well together. And that was before James Spader went to seed, because damn if he doesn't look 72 now.
Just went to look up how he looks now. That can't be Blaine!