“I think that I started hating my body when I was about 14.” In a recent Hollywood event, something truly intimate and unexpected happened that left everyone astonished. Emma Thompson, the 63-year-old actress, made a bold and empowering appearance, defying ageist stereotypes and challenging conventional beauty norms.
Older people are frequently overlooked in movies.
According to SAG, actors who are 40 or older had only about a third of the acting jobs in films and TV shows. But the numbers were much worse for older women compared to men. They said that 37% of all guys cast in movies and TV shows were 40 or older, while only 24% of the ladies in those shows were in that age group.
The difference is even more significant when it comes to leading roles. SAG found that only 21% of the main female characters were over 40, while 34% of the main male characters were that age. Another example of Hollywood’s mistreatment of older bodies is when in scary movies like X, older people without clothes are used to make the audience feel uneasy or scared.
Several stars have spoken about this issue.
Many famous stars have raised their voices against ageism in the entertainment industry, and they’ve also criticized the unrealistic beauty expectations they’ve had to deal with. Esteemed actors such as Julianne Moore, Jessica Lange, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Winslet have openly discussed the challenges of age discrimination in Hollywood.
Their efforts have sparked meaningful conversations about the need for more diverse and authentic representations of people of all ages on screen. Notably, Kate Winslet’s stand against unrealistic body standards is evident in her refusal to allow the director of Mare of Easttown to edit her belly in an intimate scene. This bold move further underscores the importance of portraying natural and genuine bodies in media.
Emma Thompson decided to show how a real older body looks like.
Emma Thompson’s courageous decision to portray an authentic older body unclothed in the film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande speaks volumes about the prevailing issues of body image and ageism. She reflects, “It’s very challenging to be nude at 62, especially in a world where nothing has changed in the dreadful demands made on women to look a certain way.”
Thompson shares, “I realized that if I’m not near any mirrors and I look down at my body, it looks fine. I can see my toes, and it doesn’t look horrible. But as soon as I look in a mirror, I see nothing but flaws. It was definitely an interesting thing to experiment with.” Through her insights, Emma Thompson advocates for more authentic, compassionate, and diverse representations of older bodies in cinema.
Many other Hollywood’s beloved actors have opened up about the journey of aging in the glamorous yet challenging world of entertainment. In a candid collection of experiences, these stars share their triumphs, struggles, and insights on breaking through age-related barriers.
Prince Philip’s brutal nickname for Meghan Markle revealed
According to a royal expert, the late Prince Philip had a rather pointed nickname for the Duchess of Sussex, and it wasn’t so kind.
The nickname suggested a comparison to Wallis Simpson, the controversial wife of the former King Edward VIII, drawing parallels between Meghan Markle and Wallis, both American and divorced when they married into the royal family.
Prince Philip supposedly referred to Meghan with a name that made reference to this connection.
Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII
Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée who became the Duchess of Windsor, was one of the most controversial royal figures in recent history after King Edward VIII decided to abdicate the throne in December 1936 (after less than a year as a monarch) to be able to marry her.
At the time, royals were prohibited from entering into a marriage with a divorced person – a rule that did not change until 2002, just three years before the then-Prince Charles married Camilla, per the Royal Observer.
Following King Edward and Wallis Simpson’s marriage, they were not allowed to return home without the permission of his brother, the new King George VI, as there were fears it could potentially cause public unrest, Vogue detailed.
During their years of exile, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor constantly attracted headlines – with one of their most shocking incidents occurring in 1937 when they visited Nazi Germany and were photographed giving the notorious Nazi salute upon meeting Adolf Hitler.
Prince Philip’s brutal nickname
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward shed light on Prince Philip’s perspective during an interview with GB News, suggesting that he thought Meghan and Wallis Simpson had many similarities, leading to the adoption of a discreet nickname for the Duchess of Sussex.
Allegedly Prince Philip, who Seward says was known for his astute judgment of character, couldn’t overlook the resemblances between Meghan and Prince Harry and Edward and Mrs. Simpson.
“I think that Prince Philip was very canny about people and he didn’t always see bad in people, he often tried to see the good in them,” Seward said.
“He just could not get away from the similarities between Meghan and Harry and Edward and Ms Simpson, which his why he used to call her the Duchess of Windsor. Not to her face though, he used to call her DOW,” she added.
In her book ‘My Mother and I‘, Seward delved further into Prince Philip’s reservations about Meghan, describing him as “wary” of the former Suits actress and her potential impact on the royal family.
While Prince Philip saw Meghan as potentially disruptive, Queen Elizabeth II held “high hopes” for her, indicating differing perspectives within the royal family regarding Meghan’s role and influence.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left royal life
Since stepping back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California, Meghan and Harry have maintained a relatively low profile within the royal sphere.
While Harry is set to visit the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, with a service to be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8, according to the Daily Express. Meghan is expected to remain in the US, citing safety concerns and a desire to avoid stirring up controversy.
Despite occasional returns to the UK for significant events like Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022, Meghan has opted out of attending others, such as King Charles III’s coronation, which Harry attended alone last year.
It’s clear that Meghan is choosing to prioritizing her safety and peace amidst constant scrutiny and public interest in her relationship with the royal family.
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