: At 81, she continues to dominate both screen and stage, with 2026 seeing the return of her acclaimed performance as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience .
Despite the success of individual stars, systemic barriers remain. Recent data highlights a "volatile" path toward true equity:
: Recently won her first Golden Globe at 62 for The Substance , a film that directly critiques Hollywood's ageist standards.
: By 2026, her career is described as one of "ownership," moving away from the ingénue roles of her youth into textured, authoritative characters.