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Women are rallying for Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she was targeted by scrutiny across platforms over her looks during a high-profile appearance.

Zeta-Jones attended an industry gathering in LA recently where a TikTok interview featuring her character in season two of Wednesday was overshadowed by comments concerning her appearance.

Widespread Backing

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, called the online criticism "utter foolishness", adding that "males escape this expiration date which women face".

"Men don't have such a timeline that women do," said Ms White.

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, stated unlike men, women were subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and Zeta-Jones should be at liberty to look in any way she chooses.

Online Reaction

During the interview, also shared to Facebook and garnered over 2.5 million views, the actor, who is from Wales, talked about the pleasure of exploring her part, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

Yet a significant number of the online responses centered on her years and were negative towards her looks.

The online backlash sparked significant support of Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from a social media user which said: "You bully females when they get too much work done and attack them if they avoid enough."

Commenters also rallied in support, one stating: "She is aging naturally and she looks beautiful."

Others described her as "stunning" and "lovely", and one comment read that "her appearance reflects her years - that's called reality."

Making a Point

Ms White arrived at the studio earlier without any makeup as a demonstration and to highlight the absence of a "blueprint" for what a woman in her 50s ought to appear.

Like many women her age, she stated she "takes care of herself" not for a youthful appearance but in order to feel "better" and appear "in good health".

"Getting older represents an honour and provided we live the best we can, this is what is important," she added.

Ms White stated that men were not subject to the same appearance ideals, adding "nobody scrutinizes the age of famous men might be - they just look 'wonderful'."

She said this was one of the reasons behind her participation in the pageant's division for women over 45, to prove that women in midlife continue to exist" and "retain their appeal".

Unfair Scrutiny

The author, a writer and commentator of Welsh origin, commented that while the actor is "beautiful" this is "beside the point", adding she should be free to appear in any way she chooses without her years being scrutinised.

Hughes argued the digital criticism proved not a single woman is "exempt" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "ongoing theme" that they are not good enough or of the right age - an issue that is "galling, irrespective of who the victim is".

When asked if males encounter the same scrutiny, she answered "not at all", explaining women were attacked simply for demonstrating the "nerve" to live online as they age.

A Double Bind

Even with cosmetic companies advocating for "youthful longevity", she commented women were still judged whether they aged naturally or chose interventions such as plastic surgery or injections.

"If you age gracefully, people say you ought to try harder; if you get treatments, you are criticized for not aging gracefully enough," she concluded.