After the list of 2025 Emmy Award nominees was released, Kathy Bates had already broken an incredible record: She had become the oldest woman ever nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
The 77-year-old star broke Angela Lansbury’s previous record by being nominated at the age of 70. Kathy was nominated for the category following her performance in the hit CBS drama series Matlock, where she played Madeline.
After last year’s awards were met with their own historic firsts, this year has many more to come, with Kathy potentially becoming the oldest woman to ever win in the coveted category. While this is an inspiring feat for the acting industry, television experts believe that it is not a reflection of ageism diminishing in the industry.
Dr. Laura Minor, a Lecturer in Television Studies at the University of Salford, told The Express US, “Kathy Bates’ Emmy nomination for Lead Drama Actress at 77 should be cause for celebration, and it is—but the fact that we’re calling it ‘historic’ tells us everything about Hollywood’s problem with older women.”
She continued, “This nomination matters because it challenges a fundamental bias in our culture: to be old is to be devalued, but to be old and female is to face double the dismissal.”
And while it’s important to celebrate these wins in the television industry, it’s also important to note that we are still ways away from ageism no longer being a prominent issue in the world of acting. Ageism in Hollywood disproportionally affects women who face a harder time landing leading roles as they grow older, with a significant decline in oppourtunities after they turn 40.
Dr. Minor stated, “Sadly, for every Kathy Bates or June Squibb who breaks through, dozens of brilliant actresses can’t get seen for a part. Hollywood has simply traded its obvious ageism for something more subtle – a system that celebrates the exceptions while keeping the rules firmly in place.”
She continued, “Whether Bates takes home the Emmy on Sunday isn’t really the point. What matters is whether this moment leads to actual change, or if we’ll still be calling it ‘historic’ when the next 77-year-old woman gets nominated in another decade.”
Dr. Minor concluded, “The industry needs to recognise that great stories and great performances don’t come with an expiration date – and neither should opportunities for the women who can deliver them.”
Viewers can tune in to see the results of Kathy’s category and others during the 77th Emmy Awards which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony can be viewed live on the CBS television network and is available for streaming on Paramount+.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
