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Women are rallying for Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced disparaging remarks across platforms regarding her appearance at a recent industry event.

Zeta-Jones attended a promotional function in LA recently during which a TikTok interview about her role in season two of Wednesday was eclipsed due to remarks focusing on her looks.

Voices of Support

Laura White, 58, called the online criticism "complete nonsense", noting that "men aren't given this expiration date imposed on women".

"Men don't have this expiration date which women face," said the pageant winner.

Beauty journalist aged 50, Sali Hughes, commented unlike men, women were subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and the actor deserves to be able to look however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

In the video, also shared to social media and attracted millions of views, the actor, hailing from Swansea, discussed the pleasure of delving into her part, Morticia Addams, in the latest season.

Yet many of the numerous remarks zeroed in on her age and were critical about her appearance.

The online backlash sparked a broad defence of Zeta-Jones, such as a widely-shared clip from a social media user which said: "You bully women for having cosmetic procedures and bully them if they avoid enough."

Online users rallied in support, as one put it: "This is aging naturally and she appears beautiful."

Others described her as "beautiful" and "very attractive", while someone else said that "she appears her age - that is reality."

Making a Point

She appeared for her interview recently without any makeup as a demonstration and to demonstrate there was no set "mold" of how a female of a certain age should look like.

As with others her age, she said she "takes care of herself" not to appear younger but to feel "improved" and be "vibrant".

"Getting older represents an honour and if we can do it the best we can, that is what truly counts," she added.

Ms White stated that men aren't held to identical appearance ideals, noting "people don't ask how old famous men might be - they simply are described as 'great'."

She said that became one of the reasons she entered the competition for women over 45, to prove that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "possess it".

The Core Issue

The author, a journalist from Wales, commented that although Zeta-Jones was "stunning" that is "irrelevant", noting she should be free to appear however she liked without her years being scrutinised.

She said the online abuse proved not a single woman is "immune" and that women do not deserve the "constant narrative" suggesting they are not good enough or of the right age - an issue that is "infuriating, no matter the individual targeted".

Asked if males encounter identical criticism, she said "no, never", noting women were attacked just for demonstrating the "boldness" to live on the internet while growing older.

A Double Bind

Regardless of the beauty industry promoting "age-defiance", the author stated females are still face criticism regardless of if they grow older gracefully or opted for procedures like cosmetic surgery or injectables.

"If you age naturally, commenters state you should do more; if you get work done, you're accused of not aging gracefully enough," she added.