Acclaimed actress Kirsten Dunst has opened up about the challenges of ageism and typecasting in Hollywood, revealing that she took a two-year hiatus from acting after being inundated with offers to play “sad mom” characters following her acclaimed performance in 2021’s “The Power of the Dog.”
In a candid interview for the cover story of Marie Claire magazine, the 41-year-old star admitted, “I haven’t worked in two years. Every role I was being offered was the sad mom.”
Despite her Oscar-nominated turn as the wife of a ranch owner in Jane Campion’s critically lauded western, Dunst found herself pigeonholed into a narrow range of maternal roles that failed to inspire her creatively.
“To be honest, that’s been hard for me…because I need to feed myself. The hardest thing is being a mom and…not feeling like, I have nothing for myself. That’s every mother — not just me,” she confessed, acknowledging the struggle to maintain her identity beyond motherhood to her two sons with husband Jesse Plemons.
Dunst also reflected on the persistent issue of ageism in the entertainment industry, recounting instances of being belittled on the set of the “Spider-Man” films early in her career. While admitting to grappling with insecurities like any woman, she expressed confidence in her ability to age gracefully thanks to her level-headed approach.
“There’s definitely less good roles for women my age,” she lamented, revealing that her upcoming role in the dystopian action film “Civil War,” set for release on April 12th, was a conscious effort to break free from typecasting.
Dunst’s experience resonates with a growing chorus of actresses who have spoken out against the industry’s narrow beauty standards and lack of meaty roles for women of a certain age. From Maggie Gyllenhaal being deemed “too old” at 37 to play a love interest, to Cameron Diaz’s lament about losing her “value” after 40, ageism remains a persistent issue in Hollywood.
As Dunst reemerges on the big screen, her candid reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle for better representation and opportunities for actresses of all ages in an industry still grappling with ingrained biases.