🔗 Share this article

There is a groundswell of support for Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones following she encountered criticism online about her looks at a recent industry event.

The actor was present at a promotional function in LA last month where a TikTok interview about her character in the latest Wednesday became dominated because of discussion focusing on her appearance.

Voices of Support

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, called the negative reaction "utter foolishness", adding that "men aren't given this expiration date that women do".

"Men are free from this sell-by/use-by date which women face," said the pageant winner.

Beauty journalist aged 50, Sali Hughes, stated unlike men, females are unfairly judged growing older and she ought to be at liberty to look as she wishes.

Digital Backlash

During the interview, which was also posted on Facebook and had more than 2.5m views, Zeta-Jones, who is from Mumbles, Swansea, talked about the pleasure of exploring her part, Morticia Addams, in season two.

However a significant number of the online responses centered on her years and were critical about her appearance.

This criticism ignited widespread defence of Zeta-Jones, featuring a widely-shared clip from a social media user which stated: "People criticize females for having treatments and bully them if they avoid sufficient procedures."

Others also spoke up for her, one stating: "She is ageing naturally and she looks beautiful."

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

Making a Point

Ms White arrived for her interview recently without any makeup to "prove a point" and to demonstrate the absence of a "template" of how a female of a certain age is supposed to look.

Similar to numerous females her age, she said she "maintains her wellbeing" not to appear younger but to feel "improved" and appear "vibrant".

"Ageing is a gift and if we can age gracefully, this is what truly counts," she continued.

Ms White stated that males are not held to the same aesthetic benchmarks, adding "people don't ask the age of famous men are - they simply look 'wonderful'."

She explained this was one of the reasons she entered the pageant's division for women over 45, in order to demonstrate that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "possess it".

A Fundamental Problem

Sali Hughes, a journalist from Wales, stated that although Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" this is "not the point", noting she should be able to appear however she liked absent her years being scrutinised.

She said the social media vitriol demonstrated no woman was "exempt" and that women do not deserve the "perpetual story" suggesting they are not good enough or young enough - an issue that is "infuriating, no matter the individual targeted".

When asked if men experience identical criticism, she answered "absolutely not", explaining women were criticized just for demonstrating the "nerve" to be present on social media while growing older.

A Double Bind

Even with cosmetic companies advocating for "youthful longevity", she commented females are still criticised whether they aged naturally or opted for procedures like plastic surgery or injections.

"Should you grow older naturally, people say you ought to try harder; if you get work done, you are criticized for trying too hard," she concluded.