Hollywood could benefit from a time out to think long and hard about what it’s done wrong when it comes to empowering women. After all, ageism in Tinseltown is a tale older than the woman it continues to shun year after year. Even today, women in the television and film industry would be hard-pressed to avoid conversations about aging in front of a camera. Why? Because legend has it that women in Hollywood are past their prime as they approach their 40s, a stigma that’s followed actors around for longer than anyone would like to admit.
But, let’s face it — so many celebrities look better with age, and they come with years of experience balancing the unreasonable expectations the entertainment industry continues to promote. With that in mind, we’re celebrating the wisdom on aging from some of Hollywood’s most beloved women — regardless of the unreasonable standards they have become accustomed to dismantling.
Related: 10 skincare mistakes that could be aging you.
![Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker has her hair up in a ballerina bun. She's wearing a grey sheer cape witha. slightly darker grey heart shaped dress.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Sarah Jessica Parker
![Andie MacDowell Andie MacDowell shows off her long grey hair at an event while wearing a navy blue dress.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Andie MacDowell
![Taraji P. Henson Taraji P. Henson waves to the camera while wearing a full sleeve black dress with pink strips down her arms, a blue strip around her waist and yellow strips down her thighs.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Taraji P. Henson
![Iman Iman wearing a black halter dress with thick belt.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Iman
![Meryl Streep Meryl Streep wearing a dark grey turtle neck with a black dress over top.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Meryl Streep
![Kate Winslet Kate Winslet holding an Emmy while wearing a black sheer dress.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Kate Winslet
![Halle Berry Halle Berry wearing a blue metallic jumpsuit.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Halle Berry
![Salma Hayek Salma Hayek looking over her shoulder to the cameras while wearing a strapless black and magenta dress.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Salma Hayek
![Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Aniston wearing a strapless black dress.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Jennifer Aniston
![Julianne Moore Julianne Moore smiling on a recarpet while wearing a black blazer and metallic top.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Julianne Moore
![Drew Barrymore Drew Barrymore wearinga. red silk button down top and matching pants.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Drew Barrymore
![Tina Fey Tina Fey wearing a black and white checkered suit and jacket with a white t-shirt.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Tina Fey
![Cameron Diaz Camera Diaz wearing a black blazer and blue jeans](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Cameron Diaz
![Naomi Campbell Naomi Campbell wearing a cream coloured dress with small feather details](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Naomi Campbell
![Jamie Lee Curtis Jamie Lee Curtis wearing a low cut yellow dress with shoulder pads.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Jamie Lee Curtis
![Jada Pinkett Smith Jada Pinkett Smith wearing a diamond ear cuff and strapless red dress.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Jada Pinkett Smith
![Kim Cattrall Kim Cattrall has her arms crossed while wearing a navy blue knitted sweater with a printed scarf](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Kim Cattrall
![Reese Witherspoon Reese Witherspoon wearing a long sleeve black sequin dress](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Reese Witherspoon
![Tracee Ellis Ross Tracee Ellis Ross wearing a beige blazer with red lipstick](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Tracee Ellis Ross
![Diane Keaton Diane Keaton wearing a black hat with a navy blue sequin suit and jacket.](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)