Emma Thompson hits out at filmmakers for ignoring women over 60

• Emma Thompson has criticised filmmakers following a study revealing the underrepresentation of women over 60 in cinema.
• A campaign by The Age Without Limits found that only five of the 100 highest-grossing films over the past three years starred a woman older than 60.
• The study also highlighted that films were four times more likely to feature a talking animal as a lead than an older woman.
• Thompson said she wants to see “more films centre ageing women”, adding that “older women don’t need permission to exist on screen. They already exist in the world – cinema just needs to catch up.”
• In a statement following the findings, The Centre for Ageing Better’s chief executive, Dr Carol Easton OBE, said: “It is absolutely ludicrous to think so few films have been made in recent years that have an older woman at the front and centre.”

IN FULL

Emma Thompson calls for change after new study finds more hit films star a man called Chris than a woman over 60