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Anorak News | Over The Hill

Over The Hill

by | 8th, June 2004

‘YESTERDAY, we told you how Oscar-winning actors and actresses lived for an average of four years longer than peers without a golden statuette on their mantelpiece.

Off to the geriatric ward

That’s all well and good, but for women in Hollywood that is likely to equate to four more years of unemployment.

The Independent reports that Alex Kingston, the British actress who plays Dr Corday on the hit medical drama ER, has been told that she won’t have her £2.3m contract renewed after the current series.

And she has no doubt that it is her age – 41 – that is the motivating factor behind the decision.

‘I suddenly felt very old surrounded by these young twentysomethings,’ she said. ‘Does it mean that I’m the geriatric that’s being pushed out because she’s too old?

‘Apparently I, according to the producers and the writers, am part of the old fogeys who are no longer interesting.’

Other actresses have made similar complaints, including Kim Cattrall and Helen Mirren.

Rosanna Arquette has even made a documentary about the problem, entitled Searching For Debra Winger (after the actress who opted out of Hollywood at the age of 40).

The film, to be released in the UK this year, is a sustained attack on the male-dominated industry which has few female directors and even fewer female studio executives.

‘It is offensive,’ 44-year-old Arquette says, ‘that in Hollywood a 68-year-old movie star is paired with a 30-year-old or someone even younger.’

We agree, but take comfort from the fact that, although Madonna’s acting career may be brought to a premature end, Ben Affleck will be hamming it up for many years to come…’



Posted: 8th, June 2004 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink