Aging stars say that the camera loves youth
September 2, 2009
Two of the UK leading female TV stars – now 64 and 63 years old – are not showing signs as yet of fading into the background.
Anne Robinson and Joanna Lumley have, however, spoken out about accusations that TV broadcasters cater to an obsessive “cult of youth”, and that the industry is “ageist”.
Robinson will be returning as the presenter for the consumer rights programme Watchdog, and admitted “all television is sexist and ageist”, while Lumley suggested that people needed to “get over” their problem with aging actresses not landing leading roles.
The star of Absolutely Fabulous said she thought that many people had gotten obsessed with “ageist” issue, noting that it’s not realistic to think that older actors and actresses are going to playing lead roles.
She added that in film, cameras love “a young person, man or woman” and that historically at least five times more leading parts for men than women have been the norm.
Lumley went on to say that nothing was likely to change and even the best of the aging talent –such as herself – isn’t likely to be getting leading roles.
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