This year at the Golden Globes, female actors over 40 shone bright. Among these incredible nominated actors were Demi Moore (62), Fernanda Torres (59), Jodie Foster (62) and Zoe Saldaña (46). These women know their worth as actors and we are all here to celebrate with them.
A Fight as Long as Time
The first edition of the Golden Globes happened in January 1944 and awarded Jennifer Jones for her role in The Song of Bernadette. Since then, this award has diversified its categories and awarded the Best Female Actor in a Motion Picture to incredible female actors such as Ingrid Bergman, at 41 years old, for Anastasia in 1956, and Shirley Booth, at 54 years old, for her role in Little Sheba.

However, in most recent years, it seems female actors between 40 and 60 were forgotten in Hollywood until they reached the age to play “the grandmother”. We all know that humans are much more complex than their age or gender, and cannot be defined simply by roles like “the grandmother”, “the sexy young woman”, or “the female fatale”. Despite this, Hollywood continues to have trouble representing older female actors realistically - or at all. In 2023, only three films featured women over 45 in a leading role, compared to 32 with men of the same age, according to the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

Luckily, it seems female actors between 40 and 60 have beaten the “fallow years” theory as mentioned by Rebecca Cobe in her Harper Bazaars article. Despite industry barriers that persist in reducing women to their age and physique, these women continue to display their talent as actors, directors, and screenwriters.

Work to Be Done Behind-the-Scenes
In 2024, two women were nominated for the category of Best Director. However, since its inauguration in 1944, the Golden Globe has only awarded three women in its history as Best Director.
At 41 years old, Barbra Streisand (Yentl) was the first nominated and also the first woman awarded as Best Director in 1984. She remained the only one for 37 years until Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), at 39 years old, came along in 2021, becoming also the first Asian woman awarded. Right after, in 2022, Jane Campion, at 67 years old, won for her work in The Power of the Dog.


Shocking isn’t it? The same scenario happens with the Academy Awards. The first woman nominated to the Oscars was Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties) in 1976 while the first woman to win as Best Director was Kathryn Bigelow in 2009 - 82 years after the creation of the award!

Chloe Zhao, Jane Campion, and Kathryn Bigelow are also the only three women to ever win Best Director at the Oscars.
Curious fact: Jane Campion currently holds the Guinness Record as the Oldest Female to win Best Director at the Oscars. She was 67 when she beat Kathryn Bigelow, who was 58 when she won the award.

“When I began shooting Yentl in 1982, I had a clear vision of the film I wanted to make, so I ended up directing, acting, producing and writing,” Streisand says. “A lot of people were upset that I was assuming all those roles, and I remember getting attacked for wanting to have control over my work. So it’s wonderful to see Chloé Zhao be in full control of her movie by doing multiple jobs — which ensures the final cut is completely what she envisioned. I’m very happy for her and for the state of women filmmakers today. We’ve come a long way.”— Barbra Streisand for Variety.
The Faces of Change at the Golden Globes
The 2025 Golden Globes celebrated a stellar lineup of performances, showcasing the incredible range and depth of talent among actors in film and television, nominating great names such as Demi Moore (62), Fernanda Torres (59), Jodie Foster (62), and Zoe Saldaña (46). This year's winners for Best Performance by a Female Actor not only captivated audiences with their powerful portrayals but also became the faces of change in entertainment.
The main face of this year’s award was Demi Moore, who surprised many with her incredible performance in The Substance (see trailer). At 62 years old, Demi Moore, who has left her mark in our hearts with many performances such as Ghost (1990), won her first ever Golden Globes as Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy this year! Proving, despite being labeled a “popcorn actress”, that she is indeed an award-worthy, professional actor.
"30 years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a popcorn actress and, at that time, I made that mean that this wasn’t something that I was allowed to have, that I could do movies that were successful, that made a lot of money, but that I couldn’t be acknowledged. [...] The universe told me you're not done. And I'm so grateful."— Demi Moore, Golden Globes Acceptance Speech.
"I'll just leave you with one thing that I think this movie is imparting is... in those moment when don't think we are smart enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or successful enough...[...] you'll never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick."— Demi Moore, Golden Globes Acceptance Speech.
The Substance’s horror and gory tone required Demi Moore to face all aspects of aging—both the physical and physiological parts. Through the eyes of her character Elisabeth Sparkle, who is replaced in her daytime TV program by a younger woman, Demi Moore was forced to face so many of the toxic entertainment industry’s standards towards women (check out her interview with Variety) and how it had shaped her understanding of herself worth as an actor. Its deep message helped Demi Moore accept being “a certain age” and see her worth as a professional and talented female actor comfortable in her skin.

“ I believe it’s our duty to open that door wider for the next generation of women in Hollywood. Our stories matter, our voices matter, our work has an impact that goes beyond the screen. And we can change not only our industry, but how the world sees women, just by how we see ourselves, and by how we hold each other.” — Demi Moore, Interview for Women in Hollywood, ELLE
Another face of this year’s award is Fernanda Torres who won her first-ever Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama (one of the biggest awards of the ceremony) at 59 years old for her performance in I’m Still Here. It makes her the first Brazilian to ever win the award. The beloved Brazilian actor used to comedy roles, took the world by storm with her performance as Eunice Paiva in this drama, proving how much of a versatile professional she is. It comes as no surprise that her acting in I'm Still Here touched so many hearts. Her passion for acting has been a part of her life since the beginning through the influence of her mother, one of the greatest Brazilian actors, Fernanda Montenegro (95), who was also nominated for the same award in 1998 at 69 years old for Central Station. Brazilians now can consider themselves avenged for taking home the award lost back in 1998.
Fernanda Torres' performance is even considered one of the favorites to win the Oscars as Best Female Actor, right next to Demi Moore. Her acting shows that it’s never too late to aim for new heights and that there should be no such thing as “past our prime” in our dictionaries.

“This award is proof that art endures, even through the difficult times Eunice Paiva faced and the many challenges the world grapples today. This film makes us reflect on how to persevere in times like these.”— Fernanda Torres, Golden Globes Acceptance Speech, 2024.

Breaking the Mold, Shaping the Future
The 2025 Golden Globes mark a significant milestone in the evolving narrative of Hollywood. The recognition of powerhouse performances by women like Demi Moore and Fernanda Torres reminds us that age is not a limit but a testament to resilience, growth, and unparalleled talent. These actors, alongside the trailblazers who came before them, are rewriting the script of what it means to be a woman in film and inspiring generations to come.
While there is still work to be done to bridge the gaps in representation and equality, the achievements of this year’s nominees and winners are a clear signal: the industry is slowly but surely shifting. These women prove that talent, depth, and passion for storytelling transcend the arbitrary barriers of age or gender.
As we celebrate their successes, let us continue to champion a Hollywood—and a world—that values all voices, honors all experiences, and empowers everyone to step into their spotlight, no matter when it comes.
Sources:
Golden Globe winners: Why midlife women should finally be celebrated
Women Over 40 Were The Real Golden Globes 2025 Winners | Junkee
97TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 10 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED | Academy Press Office
The 2025 Golden Globes Showed Women Over 45 Having Their Moment
2025 Golden Globes Best Director: Brady Corbet Wins for The Brutalist
Golden Globes History: Race and Gender Across the Years — the Light Leaks
Women Over 40 Are Being Excluded from Hollywood - Ms. Magazine
Demi Moore: Is Still Redefining Hollywood • Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa
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