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Women are rallying for Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones after she faced scrutiny online over her appearance following a red carpet event.

The actor was present at a Netflix event in Los Angeles on 9 November during which a social media clip discussing her role in season two of Wednesday became dominated by comments about her appearance.

Voices of Support

Laura White, 58, labelled the negative reaction "complete nonsense", noting that "males escape this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women".

"Males escape such a timeline imposed on women," stated Ms White.

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, stated differently from men, females are criticized as they age and she ought to be at liberty to appear in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, also shared to social media and had over 2.5 million views, the actor, hailing from Swansea, discussed the pleasure of exploring her part, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

Yet many of the numerous remarks focused on her age and were critical towards her looks.

The online backlash ignited significant support for Zeta-Jones, including a popular post online which declared: "People criticize women if they undergo cosmetic procedures and bully them when they don't have enough work."

Commenters also came to her defence, as one put it: "She is growing older naturally and she appears beautiful."

Others described her as "stunning" and "very attractive", with another adding that "she appears her age - that's called the natural process."

Making a Point

She appeared at the studio earlier with a bare face as a demonstration and to demonstrate the absence of a "blueprint" of how a female in midlife ought to appear.

As with others of her years, she stated she "maintains her wellbeing" not to appear younger but so she feels "better" and be "vibrant".

"Getting older represents an honour and provided we do it the best we can, that's what truly counts," she stated further.

She argued that men were not judged by the same aesthetic benchmarks, adding "nobody scrutinizes how old famous men might be - they just appear 'great'."

She explained it was a key factor behind her participation in Miss Great Britain's category the classic category, to prove that midlife women continue to exist" and "still have it".

The Core Issue

The author, a journalist of Welsh origin, stated that while Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" this is "beside the point", noting she should be able to look as she wishes absent her years facing scrutiny.

She said the social media vitriol demonstrated not a single woman is "immune" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "perpetual story" that they are lacking or young enough - an issue that is "galling, irrespective of the individual targeted".

When asked if men experience equivalent judgment, she said "absolutely not", adding females are criticized merely for demonstrating the "nerve" to live on social media while growing older.

An Impossible Standard

Despite the beauty industry emphasizing "longevity", Hughes said women were still face criticism regardless of if they grow older naturally or opted for procedures like cosmetic surgery or fillers.

"If you age naturally, commenters state you should do more; if you undergo procedures, people say you failing to age well," she remarked further.