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Females are uniting behind acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones following she faced disparaging remarks on social media regarding her looks during a industry event.

Zeta-Jones attended a Netflix event in LA last month where a TikTok interview about her character in the latest the 'Wednesday' show became dominated due to discussion concerning her age.

A Chorus of Defence

Aged 58, Laura White, described the backlash "absolute rubbish", stating that "men don't have this expiration date which women face".

"Men are free from this sell-by/use-by date that women do," said Ms White.

Beauty journalist aged 50, Sali Hughes, commented unlike men, females are unfairly judged growing older and she ought to be at liberty to look in any way she chooses.

Online Reaction

In the video, also shared to social media and attracted millions of views, the actor, originally from Mumbles, Swansea, spoke of her enjoyment in portraying her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

But many of the hundreds of comments zeroed in on her years and were negative about her looks.

This criticism triggered significant support for Zeta-Jones, including a widely-shared clip online which stated: "You bully women for having treatments and attack them if they avoid enough."

Commenters also spoke up for her, with one writing: "She is aging naturally and she looks stunning."

Some called her as "stunning" and "very attractive", with another adding that "she looks her age - that is the natural process."

Challenging Perceptions

The winner attended for her interview earlier makeup-free to make a statement and to demonstrate that there is no fixed "template" of how a woman of a certain age should look like.

Like many women of her years, she explained she "looks after herself" not to look younger but in order to feel "well" and look "healthy".

"Ageing is a gift and provided we live the best we can, that is what is important," she added.

Ms White stated that males are not subject to the same beauty standards, adding "no-one questions the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones might be - they just appear 'great'."

She explained it was one of the reasons behind her participation in Miss Great Britain's category for women over 45, to prove that females of a certain age are still here" and "still have it".

A Fundamental Problem

Hughes, an author and presenter from Wales, commented that while the actor is "gorgeous" that is "irrelevant", adding she deserves to be able to appear as she wishes absent her age facing scrutiny.

She said the digital criticism demonstrated not a single woman is "exempt" and that women do not deserve the "ongoing theme" that they are insufficient or youthful enough - a problem that is "maddening, irrespective of who the victim is".

Asked if males encounter equivalent judgment, she answered "no, never", noting females are targeted simply for showing "nerve" to be present on social media as they age.

A No-Win Situation

Even with the wellness sector emphasizing "age-defiance", the author stated females are still judged regardless of if they grow older gracefully or opted for procedures including surgical procedures or injectables.

"Should you grow older without intervention, others claim you should do more; when you have procedures, you're accused of not aging gracefully enough," she added.