Maggie Gyllenhaal Was Told She's Too Old to Play a 55-Year-Old's Love Interest

Just a few weeks ago, "Inside Amy Schumer" skewered Hollywood's ridiculous ageism and sexism with a hilarious sketch that explained that there's an age at which actresses are no longer deemed "f--kable." Now, Maggie Gyllenhaal has proven that that notion is, unfortunately, very much a reality.

In an interview with TheWrap Magazine about her recent Emmy buzz (and Golden Globe win) for Sundance miniseries "The Honourable Woman," the actress also recalled a depressing turn of events: She was turned down for a role in an upcoming film because she was deemed too old to play a realistic romantic lead -- opposite a 55-year-old man.

"There are things that are really disappointing about being an actress in Hollywood that surprise me all the time," Gyllenhaal told the magazine of the encounter. "I'm 37 and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55. It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh."

While we're glad Gyllenhaal was eventually able to laugh it off, we're still seething. Since when is 37 considered old? Last we checked, 55 wasn't exactly spring chicken age, either, and yet this leading man (or the writer/director who hired him) thinks he can and should do better? As Seth and Amy would say: REALLY?!?

We have no idea what project she was referring to (according to TheWrap, the actress declined to name names), but we applaud her healthy attitude in the face of such stupidity. And despite that sour experience, Gyllenhaal did express optimism for the state of the industry.

"A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women," she told the magazine. "I don't feel despairing at all. And I'm more looking with hope for something fascinating."

Our fingers are crossed that she finds it.

[via: TheWrap]

Photo credit: Getty Images



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