: Dramas such as Nomadland (2020) and The Lost Daughter (2021) offer raw, unglamorized looks at aging, solitude, and the burdens of motherhood. The Numbers: Progress Meets Persistence

As she looked back on her journey, Sophia realized that her maturity had been a blessing in disguise. With age had come a deeper understanding of herself and her craft, as well as a greater appreciation for the complexities and richness of life.

The success of The Last of Us (with Anna Torv and Melanie Lynskey cast as gritty, unattractive survivors) and Killers of the Flower Moon (where Lily Gladstone’s stoic, weathered face carries the moral weight of the film) signals a move toward realism. Mature women are finally allowed to look their age, and it is breathtaking.