Aging Actresses

Michelle Pfeiffer in People Like Us.

In an interview, actress Elizabeth Perkins, Miracle On 34th Street, said she did not get a part in a film she had auditioned for because she was supposedly told she was too old. She auditioned for the role of Robert DeNiro's wife. Robert DeNiro is in his 50s. Elizabeth Perkins is in her 40s. Obviously she is not too old to play his wife. However, the part went to 20 something Charlize Theron!

Perkins, Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as many other actresses, have publicly complained of age discrimination in Hollywood. In my opinion they have a legitimate complaint. It makes about as much sense having Charilize Theron play opposite Robert DeNiro as it did having Gwyneth Paltrow play the wife of Michael Douglas. Even though he has done the same May/December routine in real life.

In the Richard Gere/Winona Ryder movie, Autumn in New York, it looks like some girl is taking her grandfather for a walk in the park, instead of two lovers taking a stroll. No offense intended to Richard Gere, but its just too funny with the gray hair.

Older actors/younger actresses concepts are hardly new to hollywood. In High Society, 20 something Grace Kelly is being courted by 40 something Frank Sinatra and 50 something Bing Crosby. In the original Sabrina 25 year old Audrey Hepburn is pursued by 53 year old Humphrey Bogart.

Does the May/December concept help sell more tickets? Not neccesarily. The very popular African Queen starred Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart who were 43 and 50 at the time. Barbra Streisand was 31 and Robert Redford was 36 when they made the classic love story The Way We Were. Having an age difference is obviously not a necessity in the creation of a classic.

So why then does Hollywood insist on this old formula so often? Answer...So producers can meet young starlets. You think that sounds stupid? Then ask yourself these questions: Who would you rather spend 2 months on location with, a hot young starlet or a middle aged, probably married actress. And what was the last movie you saw simply because Charlize Theron was in it?