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Females are uniting behind acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones following she encountered criticism on social media regarding her looks at a recent red carpet function.

The actor was present at an industry gathering in Hollywood recently where an online segment discussing her role in the new series of Wednesday was overshadowed because of remarks concerning her looks.

Widespread Backing

Aged 58, Laura White, labelled the negative reaction "utter foolishness", stating that "males escape this sell-by/use-by date which women face".

"Men don't have this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women," said the pageant winner.

Author aged 50, Sali Hughes, said unlike men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and the actor deserves to be able to appear in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, also shared to Facebook and had over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, who is from Swansea, discussed the pleasure of exploring her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

However a significant number of the online responses centered on her age and were disparaging about her looks.

This criticism ignited widespread defence for Zeta-Jones, featuring a widely-shared clip online which declared: "There is criticism for women if they undergo too much work done and criticize them when they don't have enough."

Online users rallied in support, with one writing: "This is growing older naturally and she appears gorgeous."

Some called her as "gorgeous" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she appears her age - which is simply life."

Making a Point

The winner attended on air recently with a bare face to make a statement and to highlight there was no set "mold" of how a woman in midlife ought to appear.

As with others in her demographic, she said she "looks after herself" not to appear younger but so she feels "improved" and be "healthy".

"Growing older is a gift and if we can do it as well as possible, this is what truly counts," she stated further.

She argued that males are not held to equivalent appearance ideals, noting "nobody scrutinizes how old certain male celebrities might be - they just are described as 'great'."

She said it was part of the motivation she entered the pageant's division the classic category, to prove that females of a certain age are still here" and "retain their appeal".

Unfair Scrutiny

Sali Hughes, a journalist from Wales, said that although Zeta-Jones was "stunning" it was "not the point", adding she deserves to be free to look in any way she chooses absent her age facing scrutiny.

She said the digital criticism demonstrated no woman was "immune" and that women do not deserve the "ongoing theme" suggesting they are not good enough or youthful enough - an issue that is "maddening, regardless of the person involved".

Questioned on whether males encounter identical criticism, she said "absolutely not", noting women were attacked simply for showing "audacity" to live online as they age.

An Impossible Standard

Despite cosmetic companies emphasizing "longevity", the author stated women were still face criticism whether they aged gracefully or chose interventions like surgical procedures or injectables.

"When a woman ages without intervention, commenters state you should do more; if you get procedures, you are criticized for failing to age well," she remarked further.