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Women are rallying for acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones after she was targeted by disparaging remarks across platforms about her looks at a recent high-profile appearance.

Zeta-Jones attended a promotional function in Los Angeles last month where a TikTok interview featuring her character in season two of the 'Wednesday' show was eclipsed due to discussion concerning her looks.

Widespread Backing

Laura White, 58, called the online criticism "complete nonsense", noting that "males escape such a timeline which women face".

"Men are free from this expiration date which women face," argued the pageant winner.

Writer and commentator Sali Hughes, 50, said unlike men, women were criticized as they age and she ought to be free to appear however she liked.

Digital Backlash

In the video, uploaded to social media and attracted more than 2.5m views, the actor, hailing from Wales, talked about the pleasure of delving into her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

Yet many of the numerous remarks focused on her years and were negative about her looks.

The negative remarks ignited widespread defence for the actor, including a viral video from one Facebook user which said: "People criticize females when they get too much work done and criticize them if they avoid enough work."

Others also spoke up for her, with one writing: "This is growing older naturally and she appears gorgeous."

Others described her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", with another adding that "she looks her age - that is the natural process."

Challenging Perceptions

She appeared at the studio recently with a bare face as a demonstration and to demonstrate that there is no fixed "mold" for what a female in her 50s should look like.

Like many women of her years, she stated she "looks after herself" not to look younger but in order to feel "better" and appear "healthy".

"Getting older represents a privilege and if we can do it as well as possible, this is what is important," she stated further.

She argued that men aren't held to the same beauty standards, adding "no-one questions how old Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they just appear 'wonderful'."

Ms White noted this was one of the reasons she entered Miss Great Britain's category for over-45s, to "show that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

Sali Hughes, a writer and commentator of Welsh origin, said that while Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" it was "irrelevant", stating further she deserves to be at liberty to appear as she wishes absent her age being scrutinised.

She said the digital criticism demonstrated not a single woman is "immune" and that females should not face the "ongoing theme" that they are insufficient or youthful enough - a problem that is "maddening, irrespective of who the victim is".

When asked if men face equivalent judgment, she answered "no, never", adding women were attacked just for showing "nerve" to live on the internet while aging.

A No-Win Situation

Even with cosmetic companies advocating for "age-defiance", Hughes said women were still judged regardless of if they grow older without intervention or chose interventions such as plastic surgery or injections.

"If you age naturally, commenters state more could be done; when you have work done, you are criticized for trying too hard," she concluded.