In recent weeks, light has been shined on agesim in the entertainment industry. Cast of the new Sex and The City reboot And Just Like That have been criticised over their older looks, and Madonna has been blasted over so called “age inappropriate photos”.
Now, Hollywood heavyweight Nicole Kidman has spoken out on the matter, saying that she believes that women past 40 are being judged for being too old to succeed as an actress.
“There’s a consensus in the industry that as a female actor, at about 40, you’re done,” Kidman told Dujour while promoting her new movie, Being The Ricardos, which was released in Australia on Tuesday.
Kidman clarified that she’d never been specifically told that she was too old to be successful in her career, but said she’s experienced situations where it’s insinuated.
“I never sat in a chair and heard someone say, ‘You’re past your due date,’” the actress said, “But I’ve had times where you’re turned down and the door is shut on you. It’s definitely changing and moving.”
During the same interview, Kidman shared that she believes “you’ve got to have a thick skin” when it comes to acting.
Being The Ricardos is a biographical film about the relationship between I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Kidman stars as Lucille Ball. The announcement of Kidman’s part was met with much backlash from fans on social media, claiming that Kidman’s appearance “doesn’t suit the part”. Lucille Ball was 29 when she met Desi Arnaz.
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Despite the backlash, the film’s director Aaron Sorkin has stood by the choice of casting Kidman. “The fact of the matter is when Nicole, as Lucille Ball, plays Lucy Ricardo, I think she does an incredible job of mimicking Lucy,” Sorkin told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Finding an actress who looked like Lucille Ball wasn’t important to me, especially because I was excited by the idea that Lucille Ball doesn’t look like Lucille Ball — and that every time we’re seeing Lucille Ball not as Lucy Ricardo, she should both literally and metaphorically let her hair down.”
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Check out the trailer for Being The Ricardos:
