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Women are rallying in defence of acclaimed star Zeta-Jones following she was targeted by scrutiny on social media about her looks during a industry event.

Zeta-Jones attended an industry gathering in LA on 9 November where a social media clip about her character in the latest Wednesday was overshadowed by comments concerning her appearance.

A Chorus of Defence

Laura White, 58, labelled the negative reaction "complete nonsense", stating that "males escape such a timeline that women do".

"Men are free from this expiration date that women do," said Laura White.

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, said in contrast to men, females are criticized for ageing and Zeta-Jones should be free to look however she liked.

Digital Backlash

During the interview, also shared to Facebook and had millions of views, the actor, who is from Swansea, discussed how much she enjoyed delving into her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

However many of the online responses focused on her age and were negative about her looks.

The online backlash sparked a broad defence for Zeta-Jones, featuring a popular post from a social media user which stated: "People criticize women if they undergo too much work done and criticize them when they don't have sufficient procedures."

Commenters also spoke up for her, as one put it: "This is aging naturally and she is gorgeous."

Others described her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", while someone else said that "her appearance reflects her years - which is simply life."

Making a Point

Ms White arrived for her interview recently with a bare face to "prove a point" and to demonstrate there was no set "mold" for what a female in midlife ought to appear.

As with others of her years, she said she "looks after herself" not for a youthful appearance but so she feels "improved" and look "vibrant".

"Growing older is an honour and provided we age the best we can, that is what is important," she continued.

She contended that men aren't subject to equivalent aesthetic benchmarks, adding "nobody scrutinizes how old certain male celebrities might be - they just look 'great'."

She said that became a key factor she entered the pageant's division the classic category, to prove that females of a certain age continue to exist" and "still have it".

The Core Issue

Sali Hughes, a journalist of Welsh origin, commented that while the actor is "gorgeous" it was "beside the point", noting she ought to be at liberty to appear as she wishes without her age coming under examination.

She said the digital criticism demonstrated no woman was "protected" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "perpetual story" which says they are not good enough or youthful enough - an issue that is "galling, regardless of the individual targeted".

Questioned on whether males encounter identical criticism, she said "not at all", explaining females are criticized simply for demonstrating the "nerve" to exist on the internet while aging.

A Double Bind

Regardless of the wellness sector emphasizing "age-defiance", Hughes said women were still judged whether they aged gracefully or chose interventions like cosmetic surgery or fillers.

"Should you grow older gracefully, others claim you ought to try harder; if you undergo procedures, you're accused of failing to age well," she added.