For decades, in the world of cinema, If you were 40 years old you were finished. Your acting career had come to an end. If you were a singer, model or engaged in any other profession that, in some way, could be related to your physical image, this was the limit. At 40 you were too old, as harsh as it may sound.
And Maribel Verdú was aware of this. That is why in an exciting interview he shares Cocunat Spain He confesses, on the verge of tears, that he always thought that after 40 his career would end. But he didn’t do it. It goes on and on and on. And that’s wonderful.
Ageism in the film industry
The Golden Age of Hollywood, between 1930 and 1950, punished women with unforgivable force. When you turned 40, you could forget about starring roles forever, if you were a woman.
Bette Davis or Joan Crawford are an example of this. Both had to fight, tooth and nail, to be able to continue having important roles, and sometimes accepting the role of villain or woman in “decadence” to remain on screen.
Back then, a 40-year-old woman was old. Not like that the male actors that, instead, They could age on screen without so much punishment. Clark Glabe or Cary Grant continued to be considered “heartthrobs” well into their 50s.
In the 60s and 70s, the countercultural movement focused on youth, which left out once again all people over 40and not to mention the 50s. In the 80s and 90s we began to see films in which some actresses were “lucky” to be able to continue playing iconic roles despite their age: Jessica Tandy in Walking Miss Daisy or Kathy Bates in Fried green tomatoes They broke many barriers. Even so, the difference between men and women persistedand age in them was still a punishment.
Currently, we openly criticize ageismbut we still see many women being pushed out of the industry because of their age. Luckily, we have queens like Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench or Jane Fonda who have firmly demonstrated that after 60 there are still women with stories to tell.
In Spain, we have, among many others, Maribel Verdú, who At 54 years old, he confesses on the verge of tears that he still thinks that each year will be his last.. But the public, her audience, wants to continue enjoying her on screen. Because as she herself says, those stories also deserve to be told.
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The woman beyond age
It seems that our society is finally starting to get tired of us considering women «old» at 50. Of leaving hundreds of valid actresses with a thousand stories to tell out of the industry.. Maribel Verdú has perceived it this way for just over a decade.
“I remember when I turned 40,” explains the actress in the aforementioned interview. “I said ‘let’s see, This thing about women at 40, it is true that it exists and happens’, But it didn’t happen to me,» she confesses, feeling lucky. «I’m getting older, then I’m 50, and I say ‘I think it’s going to be my last year, it’s already over.’»
But it wasn’t like that. Now the actress is going to turn 55 and, she confesses in surprise, “Not only are they offering me incredible characters, but on top of that they are still protagonists”.
Although she appears surprised, Verdú knows that, in reality, there should be nothing strange about it. Talent is not lost with age, it is only refined. And, as she herself says, “I am interpreting what exists in life and it must be taught”.
Luckily, the actress confesses that, although “for many years” she thinks that each year will be the last, each time she has ““more projects, and more work, and more projects.” Despite everything, she feels under constant scrutiny. And the world seems to continue denying that women their age not only exist, but also have stories to tell.
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Claim the leading role
We are not all actresses of the stature of Maribel Verdú, but ageism takes its toll on most women. Most of them have to deal with the unpleasant feeling that they have no right to be protagonists.
Psychology offers us very useful advice to Don’t fall into the trap of ageism and not feel old or less for adding years. You are as old as you are and what counts is what you do. The protagonist of your life is you, whether you are 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 years old, so all you have to do is bring out your best version.
- listen to yourself. Ask yourself what you want at this stage of your life and stop being guided only by what others expect. Rediscovering your priorities is the first step to putting yourself in the center.
- Set limits without feeling guilt. Society accustomed us to please, but regaining your place means learning to say “no” without guilt and with confidence. Your time and energy are worth too much.
- Make your body your best ally. Take care of yourself with love, not with demands. It doesn’t matter what size you wear, the important thing is the energy you feel every morning. Move, feed yourself with love and take care of your body as it deserves. Because you deserve to take care of yourself like you have always taken care of everyone.
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