PARIS – Actress Gillian Anderson addresses ageism in the latest installment of L’Oréal Paris’ “Lessons of Worth” collection, which works stay simply earlier than International Women’s Day.
“There’s something really crazy, concerning, ridiculous going on. Well, there are hundreds of things, but let’s stick to the one thing that we maybe can do something about,” she says initially of the three-minute clip breaking Friday on L’Oréal Paris’ social media platforms. “Apparently, ladies over 50 are disappearing, turning into invisible. I do know, it’s like a Hollywood plot twist.
“You’re noticed, you’re needed, you’re whistled at, you’re even hit on,” Anderson continues. “And then — poof — a few years later, you don’t exist. You’re in the way. They wonder what the hell you’re still doing here.”
She says the phenomenon takes place in every single place. Yet growing old is one thing to be embraced, admired, celebrated and revered.
“Because even if you think I’m easy to dismiss as an angry, menopausal feminist, the fact is I have never felt better,” Anderson says. “I have never felt more alive in my skin, clear-headed, purposeful, free of self-judgment, and while my body might be surprising me and frustrating me sometimes, in truth, I feel like I have gained — not lost — gained. Gained perspective, confidence, wisdom and definitely, if not more than ever, the desire to say [censor beep] off.”
The censor beep then stops, and Anderson speaks her thoughts much more freely. She’s not going to vanish. “I’m a voice and a mind and a body stronger and more present and more unfiltered than ever,” she stated, ending with the L’Oréal Paris tagline, “because I’m worth it.”
The “Lessons of Worth” collection began in 2020 with the position of the model’s ambassadors in thoughts. They’ve at all times been thought-about “extraordinary women who have a voice, and a voice that can help other women to embrace not only their beauty, but their approach to life and to self-worth,” defined Olivier Monteil, senior vice chairman of worldwide picture at L’Oréal Paris.
Gillian Anderson at L’Oréal Paris’ vogue present, referred to as Le Defilé, in September 2025.
Getty Images for L’Oréal Paris/Courtesy
Installments have featured the likes of Viola Davis, Elle Fanning, Eva Longoria and Kate Winslet, every providing completely different vantage factors, together with age and cultural views. “‘Lessons of Worth’ came as this media to voice their experience and how valuable it can be to support other women,” Monteil stated.
In the ’90s, Anderson performed the enduring position of physician Dana Scully in the TV collection “The X-Files.” “This series has encouraged women to embrace scientific careers,” Monteil stated. That phenomenon is named “The Scully Effect.”
“It’s very dear to L’Oréal Paris as this reflection of how we still have a lot to do in terms of female representation in society,” Monteil stated, including that girls over 50 have at all times represented a powerful group of leaders on the model. They embrace Jane Fonda, Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell.
L’Oréal Paris is at all times taking a look at customers’ actuality and notion, in response to Monteil, who stated that one survey confirmed that 70 p.c of girls really feel they change into invisible with age. Anderson was fascinated by the subject, so got down to assist change the narrative and actuality.
In working with McCann, she was given carte blanche on her script.
The “Lessons of Worth” spot that includes Anderson breaks two days earlier than International Women’s Day, which is on Sunday.
