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Females are uniting in defence of acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced scrutiny across platforms about her looks at a recent industry function.

Zeta-Jones attended a promotional function in Los Angeles on 9 November during which an online segment about her part in season two of the 'Wednesday' show was overshadowed because of remarks about her age.

A Chorus of Defence

Aged 58, Laura White, described the online criticism "complete nonsense", stating that "men don't have such a timeline imposed on women".

"Males escape this expiration date that women do," stated Laura White.

Author aged 50, Sali Hughes, said unlike men, females are unfairly judged growing older and Zeta-Jones should be free to look in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

During the interview, uploaded to Facebook and had over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, hailing from Wales, discussed how much she enjoyed delving into her character, Morticia Addams, in the latest season.

However a large portion of the hundreds of comments zeroed in on her years and were negative about her appearance.

This criticism sparked a broad defence of the actor, including a popular post from one Facebook user which stated: "People criticize women if they undergo treatments and attack them for not having enough work."

Commenters also came to her defence, as one put it: "This is aging naturally and she looks stunning."

Others described her as "beautiful" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she appears her age - which is simply the natural process."

A Statement Arrival

The winner attended for her interview recently with a bare face to "prove a point" and to show there was no set "mold" for what a female of a certain age should look like.

Similar to numerous females of her years, she stated she "maintains her wellbeing" not for a youthful appearance but in order to feel "improved" and be "in good health".

"Growing older is a gift and if we can do it the best we can, that is what is important," she continued.

She contended that men aren't subject to equivalent aesthetic benchmarks, noting "people don't ask how old Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they simply are described as 'great'."

Ms White noted this was part of the motivation behind her participation in Miss Great Britain's category for over-45s, to prove that midlife women are still here" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

Sali Hughes, an author and presenter from Wales, said that although Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" this is "beside the point", adding she deserves to be at liberty to look as she wishes without her years coming under examination.

She stated the online abuse demonstrated that no female is "immune" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "perpetual story" suggesting they are insufficient or young enough - a problem that is "galling, regardless of the person involved".

When asked if males encounter the same scrutiny, she said "not at all", explaining women were targeted just for having the "boldness" to exist on social media while growing older.

An Impossible Standard

Regardless of cosmetic companies advocating for "age-defiance", the author stated women were still face criticism regardless of if they grow older naturally or chose interventions like surgical procedures or fillers.

"Should you grow older naturally, people say you should do more; if you get work done, you are criticized for failing to age well," she added.