Charlize Theron slams sexist attitude to ageing: 'Women wilt and men age like fine wine'

Charlize Theron has hit out at society’s sexist attitude towards ageing women, saying there is a clear difference when it comes to how each gender is talked about.

Theron, 40, said women feel there is an “unrealistic” standard of what they should look like when they pass 40.

“We live in a society where women wilt and men age like fine wine,” Theron told GQ. “And, for a long time, women accepted it. We were waiting for society to change, but now we’re taking leadership."

The Mad Max star continued: “It would be a lie to say there is less worry for women as they get older than there is for men... It feels there’s this unrealistic standard of what a woman is supposed to look like when she’s over 40.”

Theron – who worked as a model before pursuing an acting career – said she struggled to be cast in “meaty roles” due to the way she looked.

"Jobs with real gravitas go to people that are physically right for them and that’s the end of the story,” she said. “How many roles are out there for the gorgeous, f******, gown-wearing eight-foot model?

"When meaty roles come through, I’ve been in the room and pretty people get turned away first."

The Dark Places star has frequently spoken out about sexism in the industry and last year negotiated equal pay for her role in the Snow White and the Huntsman sequel.

See the full shoot in the May issue of GQ, on sale Thursday.

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