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Females are uniting in defence of Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she was targeted by disparaging remarks online regarding her appearance at a recent high-profile function.

The actor was present at a promotional function in LA recently during which a social media clip featuring her part in the latest the 'Wednesday' show became dominated due to comments about her age.

Widespread Backing

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, called the backlash "complete nonsense", noting that "men don't have such a timeline imposed on women".

"Men are free from such a timeline imposed on women," said the pageant winner.

Author Sali Hughes, 50, said unlike men, women were unfairly judged for ageing and Zeta-Jones should be free to appear however she liked.

Online Reaction

During the interview, uploaded to social media and garnered millions of views, the actor, hailing from Mumbles, Swansea, discussed how much she enjoyed delving into her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

However many of the hundreds of comments centered on her age and were disparaging about her looks.

The online backlash triggered a broad defence for Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from a social media user which declared: "People criticize females if they undergo cosmetic procedures and criticize them when they don't have enough work."

Commenters also came to her defence, with one writing: "She is growing older naturally and she appears beautiful."

Many labelled her as "beautiful" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she looks her age - that's called life."

Challenging Perceptions

She appeared at the studio earlier without any makeup to make a statement and to demonstrate there was no set "mold" for what a woman of a certain age is supposed to look.

Like many women her age, she explained she "looks after herself" not to look younger but so she feels "improved" and be "healthy".

"Ageing is a gift and when we do it the best we can, that is what is important," she stated further.

She contended that men were not subject to equivalent appearance ideals, noting "no-one questions the age of certain male celebrities might be - they just look 'great'."

She explained that became a key factor behind her participation in the pageant's division the classic category, to prove that females of a certain age continue to exist" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

The author, a journalist from Wales, stated that while Zeta-Jones was "gorgeous" this is "irrelevant", noting she should be at liberty to appear in any way she chooses free from her years facing scrutiny.

She said the online abuse showed no woman was "exempt" and that females should not face the "ongoing theme" that they are lacking or young enough - a problem that is "infuriating, no matter who the victim is".

When asked if males encounter identical criticism, she responded "not at all", noting females are targeted simply for showing "audacity" to be present online as they age.

An Impossible Standard

Even with the wellness sector promoting "age-defiance", the author stated females are still criticised whether they aged naturally or underwent treatments such as plastic surgery or injections.

"If you age without intervention, commenters state more could be done; when you have work done, people say you failing to age well," she concluded.