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Females are uniting for Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones following she was targeted by disparaging remarks across platforms regarding her appearance at a recent high-profile appearance.

She appeared at a promotional function in Hollywood on 9 November where a social media clip featuring her character in the latest the 'Wednesday' show was overshadowed due to comments about her age.

A Chorus of Defence

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, labelled the negative reaction "utter foolishness", noting that "men don't have such a timeline imposed on women".

"Males escape this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women," said Laura White.

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, stated differently from men, females are criticized for ageing and the actor deserves to be able to appear as she wishes.

Digital Backlash

During the interview, also shared to Facebook and garnered more than 2.5m views, Zeta-Jones, originally from Mumbles, Swansea, discussed her enjoyment in portraying her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

But many of the hundreds of comments centered on her years and were critical about her looks.

The online backlash sparked significant support for Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from one Facebook user which declared: "People criticize women when they get too much work done and bully them if they avoid sufficient procedures."

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

Many labelled her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", with another adding that "her appearance reflects her years - that is the natural process."

A Statement Arrival

She appeared at the studio earlier makeup-free to make a statement and to highlight the absence of a "mold" of how a woman in midlife should look like.

Like many women in her demographic, she said she "takes care of herself" not for a youthful appearance but to feel "improved" and appear "in good health".

"Ageing is a gift and if we can age the best we can, that is what truly counts," she continued.

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

She explained this was a key factor behind her participation in Miss Great Britain's category for over-45s, to prove that women in midlife remain relevant" and "still have it".

The Core Issue

Hughes, a journalist from Wales, stated that although the actor is "gorgeous" this is "irrelevant", adding she should be able to appear in any way she chooses free from her years facing scrutiny.

Hughes argued the social media vitriol proved that no female is "immune" and that females should not face the "perpetual story" suggesting they are not good enough or young enough - a situation that is "maddening, irrespective of who the victim is".

When asked if males encounter identical criticism, she said "absolutely not", explaining females are criticized just for showing "nerve" to be present online as they age.

A No-Win Situation

Even with cosmetic companies advocating for "youthful longevity", the author stated women were still criticised regardless of if they grow older naturally or underwent treatments including plastic surgery or injectables.

"Should you grow older naturally, commenters state more could be done; if you undergo treatments, you're accused of failing to age well," she added.