Judith Light thinks age, which plays an important role in casting, especially for women, is just “part of the culture” in Hollywood, but not something to “be focused on.”
Light, who stars in Starz’s new show “Shining Vale” opposite Courteney Cox and Mira Sorvino, told Insider that she’s clearly noticed how older actors are treated in Hollywood.
“It’s just part of the job,” says 73-year-old Light.
But the veteran actress, who got her start with a breakthrough role on the soap opera “One Life to Live” in 1977 and has since had a thriving career on shows like the acclaimed Amazon series “Transparent,” says she’s also had younger roles rewritten for hair.
“There have been other roles where they were written for someone younger, and then I talk to [filmmakers] and they say, ‘Wait, we’re going with you the age you are,'” the actress continued. “So it balances itself out.”
According to Light, people should “be careful” when discussing ageism in Hollywood.
“Our industry is very age-conscious and we don’t have to get into, ‘Isn’t it terrible, the way we’re often treated,’” said Light. “We know it’s part of the business. It’s inappropriate, it’s part of the culture.”
“Being so obsessed with young people is not something we should focus on,” she added.
Light also praised how “Shining Vale” presents its older female characters. In the new series, which premieres Sunday, she will play Joan, the mentally ill mother of Courteney Cox’s character, Pat.
“This show shows you what it means to be someone who can live with their age, deal with their mental illness, talk about menopause, talk about their sexuality,” she said.
“Shining Vale,” starring Light, Cox, Sorvino and Greg Kinnear, premieres Sunday on Starz. You can watch the trailer below.
This post Judith Light Says Ageist Casting Is ‘Just Part Of The Business’ was original published at “https://www.insider.com/judith-light-shining-vale-ageist-casting-interview-career-2022-3”
