Everyday Ageism: FEMAIL columnist CHRISTA D’SOUZA, says some of the age-blindness of France needs to be transported here
- Christa D’Souza says Dame Kristin Scott Thomas is a beautiful actress
- She argues Kristin shouldn’t have to thank people who tell her she’s ‘still got it’
- British columnist suggests the age-blindness in France is needed here
It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas is cross and I don’t blame her. As one of the nation’s most beautiful and talented actresses, why on earth should she have to thank people who tell her she’s ‘still got it’?
‘She’s still got it.’ The phrase can’t help remind me of a female dog, slightly run to fat, who still half-heartedly runs for the ball. It is significant that Scott Thomas — Mrs Danvers in the much-anticipated adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, which is out now on Netflix — has French nationality and has been adopted by France as one of their own.
Christa D’Souza (pictured) says Dame Kristin Scott Thomas is a beautiful actress who shouldn’t have to thank people who tell her she’s ‘still got it’
The French tend not to patronise older women. In fact, they treat them much as they do younger women.
But then in France, you’ve either got it or you haven’t. Period. Brigitte Macron, Isabelle Huppert, Christine Lagarde, Catherine Deneuve et al, there’s nothing ‘still’ about any of these women.
So how do we transplant some of that age-blindness over here? Flood the market with more, I suppose. We have Dame Helen Mirren, it’s true, but she has become an overloaded clothes peg for ‘sexy older woman’ accolades. Networks please note.