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Women are rallying behind Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced disparaging remarks on social media about her appearance at a recent high-profile event.

She appeared at a promotional function in Hollywood on 9 November during which an online segment about her part in season two of the 'Wednesday' show was eclipsed by comments about her looks.

A Chorus of Defence

Aged 58, Laura White, called the backlash "absolute rubbish", noting that "men don't have this expiration date which women face".

"Men don't have such a timeline that women do," stated Ms White.

Writer and commentator aged 50, Sali Hughes, said unlike men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny growing older and Zeta-Jones should be free to appear in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, uploaded to social media and garnered more than 2.5m views, the actor, who is from Wales, discussed how much she enjoyed portraying her character, Morticia Addams, in the latest season.

However many of the numerous remarks focused on her age and were critical towards her looks.

The online backlash triggered widespread defence for Zeta-Jones, including a viral video from one Facebook user which stated: "There is criticism for women when they get too much work done and attack them when they don't have enough."

Others also spoke up for her, as one put it: "She is ageing naturally and she looks stunning."

Others described her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", while someone else said that "her appearance reflects her years - that is the natural process."

Making a Point

The winner attended on air earlier without any makeup as a demonstration and to show that there is no fixed "template" of how a woman in midlife ought to appear.

Like many women in her demographic, she stated she "maintains her wellbeing" not for a youthful appearance but so she feels "improved" and look "healthy".

"Ageing is an honour and if we can live as well as possible, that is what really matters," she added.

She argued that males are not held to the same beauty standards, adding "nobody scrutinizes the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones are - they only look 'great'."

She explained this was one of the reasons for entering Miss Great Britain's category for over-45s, to prove that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "retain their appeal".

A Fundamental Problem

Hughes, an author and presenter of Welsh origin, said that while the actor is "beautiful" it was "irrelevant", stating further she ought to be able to look however she liked free from her age being scrutinised.

She said the digital criticism proved not a single woman is "immune" and that females should not face the "constant narrative" suggesting they are insufficient or of the right age - a situation that is "maddening, regardless of the individual targeted".

Questioned on whether men face the same scrutiny, she said "no, never", adding females are attacked simply for having the "audacity" to exist on the internet while growing older.

A No-Win Situation

Despite the wellness sector advocating for "longevity", Hughes said women were still face criticism whether they aged gracefully or opted for procedures including surgical procedures or injectables.

"When a woman ages gracefully, commenters state you should do more; if you get treatments, you are criticized for failing to age well," she remarked further.