Isabella is rewriting the show for older women
It’s been a deeply satisfying week for the older woman. And, no, I don’t just mean Ewan Mcgregor’s girlfriend chucking him a year after he walked out on his wife of 22 years and mother of his four children.
The really great news concerns Isabella Rossellini. In 1996, the actress had been the face of Lancôme cosmetics for 14 years when she was fired for being too old. Yes, poor Rossellini was an ancient, withered crone of 43. The daughter of Ingrid Bergman and Italian director, Roberto, still looked glorious but, as she recalled: “I was told that advertisements represent women’s dreams, not reality, and that women dream of looking young.”
Ageism may be the last taboo and she spoke for millions of women who are made to feel past their sell-by date when she admitted: “I can’t say I wasn’t sad. I know how to pose. I know how to give expression, and I had all this wonderful experience, but I couldn’t offer it to anyone.”
Great rejoicing, therefore, as Lancôme unveiled a new campaign this week with the now 65-year-old grandmother, Rossellini. She was invited back by Françoise Lehmann, 53, the French company’s new female general manager.
“Before, I used to deal with 60-year-old men who were paternalistic,” Rossellini says. “I knew things had changed.” When she asked, “Why me? You’re digging up an old story”, Lehmann replied: “We made a mistake. I want that story to be rewritten.”
This isn’t just a fairy-tale ending, it’s an acknowledgement of a hard commercial fact. Some
35 per cent of the population are over 50 and women over that age already account for more than half of all the money spent on cosmetics.
Although the #Metoo movement is specifically about sexual harassment, it’s having a ripple effect on other kinds of prejudice, too.
Fun fact. Of the 10 actresses nominated for Oscars this year, eight are over 40, five are over 50 and four are 60 or over. (Frances Mcdormand, likely winner of Best Actress, will be 61 in June.)
Until recently, most movie actresses could expect to disappear from the screen at 39. Or, if they were lucky, they might be allowed to play Harrison Ford’s motherin-law.
This isn’t just a happy ending for Isabella Rossellini. It’s a new beginning for older women.