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There is a groundswell of support in defence of Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones after she encountered disparaging remarks online about her appearance during a red carpet event.

Zeta-Jones attended a promotional function in Hollywood recently during which an online segment discussing her role in season two of Wednesday was eclipsed because of comments focusing on her age.

Widespread Backing

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, labelled the negative reaction "absolute rubbish", noting that "men aren't given this sell-by/use-by date which women face".

"Males escape this expiration date that women do," said the pageant winner.

Writer and commentator Sali Hughes, 50, said differently from men, females are unfairly judged for ageing and she ought to be able to appear however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

Within the clip, uploaded to Facebook and attracted over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, who is from Mumbles, Swansea, discussed how much she enjoyed exploring her part, Morticia Addams, in the new episodes.

However many of the online responses centered on her age and were critical regarding her looks.

The online backlash ignited a broad defence for Zeta-Jones, including a popular post online which said: "People criticize women for having cosmetic procedures and criticize them when they don't have sufficient procedures."

Others also came to her defence, with one writing: "She is aging naturally and she is beautiful."

Many labelled her as "beautiful" and "so pretty", and one comment read that "she appears her age - that is life."

Challenging Perceptions

She appeared for her interview recently without any makeup to "prove a point" and to highlight that there is no fixed "template" for what a woman in her 50s should look like.

As with others her age, she stated she "looks after herself" not for a youthful appearance but to feel "better" and be "vibrant".

"Growing older is an honour and if we can live gracefully, this is what really matters," she added.

She contended that men were not judged by equivalent aesthetic benchmarks, noting "no-one questions the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones might be - they simply are described as 'wonderful'."

She said that became a key factor she entered the competition for over-45s, to "show that women in midlife are still here" and "possess it".

A Fundamental Problem

The author, a writer and commentator of Welsh origin, said that although Zeta-Jones was "stunning" that is "irrelevant", adding she should be able to look as she wishes absent her age coming under examination.

She stated the social media vitriol showed no woman was "exempt" and that females should not face the "perpetual story" that they are lacking or youthful enough - a situation that is "infuriating, irrespective of the person involved".

When asked if men face the same scrutiny, she said "no, never", noting women were criticized just for showing "audacity" to exist on the internet while aging.

An Impossible Standard

Regardless of the beauty industry emphasizing "age-defiance", Hughes said women were still face criticism regardless of if they grow older without intervention or opted for procedures including plastic surgery or fillers.

"If you age without intervention, people say more could be done; if you get work done, you are criticized for not aging gracefully enough," she remarked further.