Ageless

I've finally accepted the fact that for years Hollywood's dearth of good scripts for women has been par for the course in a world where under 30 female "leads" fulfilling their role as screen ornaments for the male star is the norm. About the only "leading" actress left that can carry a film by herself anymore is Angelina Jolie amid a swirling montage of speeding cars and disposable emasculated male characters whose ass she has or will kick in the linear timeline of the plot. So imagine my surprise to discover that the highest paid actress in 2009 wasn't the scene chewing Ms. Jolie but none other than the 46 year old Sandra Bullock who is her senior by eleven years. No doubt Ms. Bullock is still renowned for being filmdom's sexiest bus driver but 2009 saw her carrying a leading role by herself in two smart crisp roles that only she could have pulled off: The Blindside & The Proposal.

For many years my favorite actress has been the 75 year old Dame Judi Dench whose formidable acting skills make any role, no matter the size, the one thing you remember about the film when the credits roll. The best example of this is her turn as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare In Love. Despite Gwyneth Paltrow getting Oscar's nod that year for best actress it is Judi Dench who actually steals the movie with her paltry 8 minutes of screen time. Trust me, after watching this film its her you remember and not the waif-like and pouting Ms. Paltrow long after the credits have rolled.

My "how kewl is that" sensibilities are in fine working order this morning as it finally dawned on me that Hollywood's cache of female stars are being led by these two ageless women over 45 whose sexiness transcends age through their talents and self awareness of who and what they are. Watching Ms. Bullock and Ms. Dench wield their power in a male dominated industry has been fun and refreshing for me over the past decade or two. And the best thing about this is they aren't showing any signs of even being done yet.

Now how kewl is that?