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Women are rallying for Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced disparaging remarks online over her looks at a recent high-profile event.

Zeta-Jones attended an industry gathering in LA recently where a social media clip about her role in season two of the 'Wednesday' show was eclipsed due to discussion about her appearance.

A Chorus of Defence

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, labelled the negative reaction "complete nonsense", noting that "males escape this expiration date that women do".

"Men don't have this expiration date that women do," said the pageant winner.

Writer and commentator aged 50, Sali Hughes, commented differently from men, women were unfairly judged for ageing and the actor deserves to be at liberty to look however she liked.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, uploaded to Facebook and garnered millions of views, the actor, originally from Wales, discussed her enjoyment in exploring her part, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

However many of the hundreds of comments focused on her age and were disparaging regarding her looks.

The online backlash triggered significant support of the actor, featuring a popular post online which said: "You bully women for having too much work done and criticize them if they avoid enough."

Commenters also rallied in support, with one writing: "She is growing older naturally and she looks gorgeous."

Others described her as "stunning" and "very attractive", while someone else said that "she looks her age - that is life."

Challenging Perceptions

The winner attended on air earlier with a bare face to make a statement and to highlight the absence of a "mold" of how a female of a certain age should look like.

As with others her age, she explained she "maintains her wellbeing" not for a youthful appearance but to feel "improved" and appear "vibrant".

"Growing older is an honour and provided we age gracefully, that is what is important," she added.

She argued that males are not judged by identical appearance ideals, adding "people don't ask the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they just look 'fantastic'."

She explained it was a key factor behind her participation in the pageant's division the classic category, to "show that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "retain their appeal".

A Fundamental Problem

The author, an author and presenter from Wales, commented that while Zeta-Jones was "stunning" it was "not the point", adding she deserves to be at liberty to appear in any way she chooses free from her age coming under examination.

Hughes argued the social media vitriol proved not a single woman is "exempt" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "constant narrative" suggesting they are lacking or youthful enough - an issue that is "galling, no matter the individual targeted".

When asked if men experience identical criticism, she said "not at all", noting females are targeted simply for demonstrating the "audacity" to live on social media as they age.

An Impossible Standard

Even with the beauty industry emphasizing "longevity", the author stated women were still face criticism if they age without intervention or opted for procedures like plastic surgery or injectables.

"If you age gracefully, others claim you ought to try harder; when you have procedures, people say you trying too hard," she concluded.