One of the top trending stories in my Facebook New Feed yesterday morning was an Olivia Wilde interview in which she revealed that she had been turned down for the part of DiCaprio's wife in Wolf of Wall Street because she was quote "too old" unquote. Too old??? For the love of all that's holy, this again? She was 28 to Leo's 37 (at the time of casting). Really Hollywood? I know, I know, ageism is nothing new in Hollywood, there have been May/December relationships since the film camera started rolling. I just think it's getting old, really old. :)
So what is it about the aging woman that scares us so? Why are we so afraid of her? Why is society so afraid to embrace her? Why is she continuously cast aside for someone younger?
There could be a multitude of reasons why, but I do believe they all come down to fear. I don't have a Psychology degree but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with dark shadows, sex and Freud.
I'm about to turn 53 and have already gone through menopause (I think, knock on wood). Certainly not the 20, 30 or even 40 something I once was, nor do I pretend to be. I have the laugh and smile lines to prove it and a little extra to provide any necessary cushioning should I take a tumble. Most importantly, I look at life in a much different way than I did in earlier years. Much differently. While I'm far from completely over myself... and getting out of my own way I am much more at home in my own skin, more vocal about my opinions, less concerned about what others think of people, and definitely less likely to be accepting of BS or drama and surrounding myself with people who raise me up and not bring me down.
I do believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel... for thousands of years, other cultures have looked to the elder women in their tribe for guidance and wisdom. These days we are everywhere, we are the baby boomer generation all grown up and we're done playing "nice" girl. We're a force to be reckoned with and I think Hollywood and media in general is starting to pay attention, after all they are us and we are them. It's up to us to guide the younger versions of ourselves into all that they can possibly become without fear.
As I finished up my read about Olivia's interview, looks like she came out pretty good in the end and landed a role in (interestingly enough) another Scorsese project, Vinyl.
However, the major news of the day... welcome home to Lancome, Isabella Rossellini, who was such the epitome of beauty to myself and others in the 80s. Who says you can never go home? Isabella is 63 and rocking the beauty world once again. Do us proud lady!
xoxo
Lisa
Beauty Cafe
P.S. Always love to hear your thoughts on my musings... please feel free to comment.