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There is a groundswell of support in defence of acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones following she faced scrutiny on social media over her appearance during a high-profile event.

The actor was present at a promotional function in Los Angeles on 9 November where a TikTok interview about her role in the new series of Wednesday was overshadowed due to comments focusing on her looks.

Widespread Backing

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, called the online criticism "complete nonsense", stating that "men aren't given this sell-by/use-by date that women do".

"Men don't have such a timeline imposed on women," argued Ms White.

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, stated differently from men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and Zeta-Jones should be able to appear however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

During the interview, uploaded to social media and garnered over 2.5 million views, the actor, who is from Swansea, spoke of how much she enjoyed exploring her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in season two.

However many of the online responses centered on her years and were negative regarding her appearance.

This criticism triggered widespread defence for Zeta-Jones, featuring a popular post from one Facebook user which stated: "You bully females when they get cosmetic procedures and attack them if they avoid enough."

Online users rallied in support, one stating: "It's called aging naturally and she is stunning."

Some called her as "stunning" and "so pretty", and one comment read that "she appears her age - that is life."

Making a Point

The winner attended for her interview recently makeup-free to "prove a point" and to demonstrate the absence of a "blueprint" of how a female of a certain age ought to appear.

As with others of her years, she said she "maintains her wellbeing" not to look younger but so she feels "improved" and appear "in good health".

"Growing older is a gift and provided we live the best we can, that's what is important," she stated further.

Ms White stated that men were not judged by equivalent appearance ideals, stating "nobody scrutinizes how old famous men might be - they just appear 'fantastic'."

Ms White noted that became part of the motivation for entering Miss Great Britain's category the classic category, in order to demonstrate that midlife women continue to exist" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

Hughes, a journalist of Welsh origin, commented that although Zeta-Jones was "stunning" this is "beside the point", adding she deserves to be free to appear however she liked free from her age facing scrutiny.

She said the social media vitriol showed no woman was "immune" and that females should not face the "ongoing theme" suggesting they are insufficient or of the right age - a situation that is "galling, irrespective of who the victim is".

Questioned on whether men face equivalent judgment, she said "not at all", adding women were targeted just for having the "boldness" to be present online while aging.

A Double Bind

Regardless of the wellness sector promoting "age-defiance", Hughes said females are still judged if they age naturally or underwent treatments like plastic surgery or injections.

"Should you grow older gracefully, others claim you ought to try harder; if you get work done, you're accused of failing to age well," she concluded.