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Females are uniting for Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones following she faced scrutiny online about her looks following a industry function.

The actor was present at a Netflix event in Los Angeles last month during which an online segment featuring her role in the new series of the 'Wednesday' show became dominated due to discussion about her age.

Voices of Support

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, described the backlash "complete nonsense", stating that "men don't have this sell-by/use-by date that women do".

"Men are free from this expiration date which women face," argued Laura White.

Author aged 50, Sali Hughes, stated differently from men, women were criticized as they age and Zeta-Jones should be free to look as she wishes.

Digital Backlash

In the video, uploaded to Facebook and attracted millions of views, Zeta-Jones, originally from Mumbles, Swansea, talked about the pleasure of delving into her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

Yet a large portion of the online responses zeroed in on her age and were disparaging about her appearance.

The online backlash sparked significant support of the actor, including a viral video from one Facebook user which said: "People criticize women when they get treatments and criticize them for not having enough."

Commenters also spoke up for her, one stating: "She is growing older naturally and she is stunning."

Some called her as "beautiful" and "lovely", while someone else said that "she looks her age - that's called life."

A Statement Arrival

The winner attended at the studio earlier makeup-free as a demonstration and to demonstrate that there is no fixed "template" of how a woman in midlife ought to appear.

Similar to numerous females in her demographic, she explained she "takes care of herself" not to look younger but to feel "better" and appear "in good health".

"Getting older represents a gift and when we live as well as possible, that is what truly counts," she added.

She contended that men were not subject to the same aesthetic benchmarks, adding "people don't ask the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they just look 'great'."

She explained it was one of the reasons she entered the pageant's division for women over 45, in order to demonstrate that midlife women continue to exist" and "still have it".

A Fundamental Problem

Hughes, a journalist from Wales, commented that although the actor is "gorgeous" that is "beside the point", adding she should be at liberty to look however she liked without her age coming under examination.

She said the digital criticism demonstrated that no female is "exempt" and that females should not face the "perpetual story" suggesting they are lacking or of the right age - an issue that is "maddening, no matter the individual targeted".

Questioned on whether men face equivalent judgment, she said "not at all", explaining females are criticized just for having the "boldness" to be present on social media while aging.

A Double Bind

Regardless of the beauty industry emphasizing "age-defiance", the author stated women were still criticised whether they aged gracefully or chose interventions like plastic surgery or fillers.

"If you age gracefully, people say you should do more; if you get treatments, you're accused of not aging gracefully enough," she added.