Despite the monumental success of 'The Matrix,' Carrie-Anne Moss found herself grappling with age-based prejudice in the heart of the film industry.
While there is a gradual shift in the industry, with trailblazers like Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Viola Davis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Kate Winslet, Olivia Colman, and Jane Fonda challenging age taboos, the struggle for actresses in Hollywood was an entrenched reality not too long ago.
Turning 40 often meant fewer leading roles and a transition into mother or grandmother characters for actresses, in stark contrast to the aging yet maturing trajectories of their male counterparts.
In 2007, four years after concluding the original Matrix trilogy, Carrie-Anne Moss, hoping for a new chapter of mature roles, encountered the harsh reality of age bias in Hollywood. Instead of being met with diverse and profound characters, she was promptly offered a grandmother role "the day after she turned 40."
In a conversation with director Justine Bateman for The Hollywood Reporter in 2021, Moss shared her disbelief at how swiftly things changed after hitting the milestone. She went from being a woman seeking nuanced roles to suddenly being cast as a grandmother, a shift that was both unexpected and "brutal." This contrasted sharply with her male colleagues like Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, or George Clooney, who continued to enjoy varied roles as they aged.
Moss reflected on the external pressures and challenges in the industry, expressing her anticipation of embracing her 40s and translating it into her career. She admired the confidence of French and European actresses in their own skin and aspired to reach that point. However, the industry's prejudices were undeniable, and Moss found herself facing an unwarranted and disheartening shift in perception.
Despite these challenges, movements like Time's Up, spearheaded by actresses such as Meryl Streep and Geena Davis, are gradually reshaping the narrative. Actresses like Reese Witherspoon, Kate Winslet, Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Nicole Kidman, and Jamie Lee Curtis, among others, are breaking barriers and enjoying successful careers beyond the age of 40.
Carrie-Anne Moss's story resonates deeply for fans of Trinity, the character she portrayed with strength and impact throughout 'The Matrix' trilogy. Her experience highlights the archaic prejudices that actresses still face, regardless of their talent, resume, or achievements. Despite the setback, Moss didn't allow this to deter her. Even as she stepped away from the media spotlight to focus on her family, she continued working, taking on diverse roles in series and films, including her reprisal of Trinity in 'The Matrix Resurrections' (2021).
