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Females are uniting in defence of Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones following she was targeted by scrutiny online over her looks during a red carpet event.

Zeta-Jones attended a Netflix event in Hollywood last month during which a TikTok interview featuring her role in season two of Wednesday was overshadowed due to discussion focusing on her appearance.

Widespread Backing

Laura White, 58, described the backlash "complete nonsense", adding that "males escape such a timeline which women face".

"Men are free from such a timeline that women do," stated Ms White.

Writer and commentator aged 50, Sali Hughes, stated in contrast to men, women were criticized as they age and she ought to be free to look however she liked.

Digital Backlash

In the video, which was also posted on Facebook and attracted over 2.5 million views, the actor, hailing from Swansea, discussed how much she enjoyed portraying her character, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

However a significant number of the online responses centered on her age and were negative about her looks.

This criticism triggered significant support of Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from one Facebook user which said: "You bully women when they get too much work done and attack them when they don't have enough work."

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

Many labelled her as "beautiful" and "so pretty", and one comment read that "she appears her age - that is life."

Making a Point

Ms White arrived at the studio earlier with a bare face to make a statement and to show there was no set "blueprint" for what a woman of a certain age is supposed to look.

Similar to numerous females in her demographic, she said she "looks after herself" not for a youthful appearance but in order to feel "improved" and be "in good health".

"Getting older represents an honour and provided we live as well as possible, that's what truly counts," she continued.

She argued that men aren't held to equivalent aesthetic benchmarks, stating "no-one questions how old certain male celebrities might be - they just are described as 'wonderful'."

She explained that became part of the motivation behind her participation in the pageant's division the classic category, in order to demonstrate that women in midlife are still here" and "retain their appeal".

A Fundamental Problem

The author, an author and presenter from Wales, stated that while Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" it was "not the point", stating further she ought to be at liberty to look in any way she chooses absent her years facing scrutiny.

She said the social media vitriol proved no woman was "protected" and that women do not deserve the "constant narrative" that they are lacking or young enough - a problem that is "maddening, regardless of the individual targeted".

Questioned on whether males encounter identical criticism, she said "absolutely not", adding females are targeted just for demonstrating the "nerve" to be present online as they age.

A Double Bind

Regardless of cosmetic companies emphasizing "youthful longevity", the author stated females are still judged if they age without intervention or underwent treatments such as cosmetic surgery or fillers.

"If you age gracefully, others claim more could be done; if you undergo procedures, people say you not aging gracefully enough," she remarked further.