Actresses like (58) and Andra Day continue to push boundaries. Davis’s portrayal of a warrior mother in The Woman King redefined what a 50-something action star looks like. Meanwhile, international cinema has long respected its older actresses. French icon Isabelle Huppert (70) still plays sexually nuanced leads. British legend Helen Mirren (78) is currently headlining the Fast & Furious franchise. The industry is realizing that true representation means showing women of all races, sizes, and abilities enjoying their third act.

One of the biggest catalysts for change has been cold, hard economic data. The industry long believed that audiences only wanted to see young women. Meryl Streep disproved this single-handedly.