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KARREN BRADY

It’s so dispiriting Hollywood can’t see Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall is still sexy at 60

IT is so dispiriting that Kim Cattrall feels forced to concentrate on a new career instead of acting – because she’s unhappy with how older women are portrayed.

“I’m not ready to play someone who is grotesque, from being thought of as a very, very older woman at 60 — which I’m not and I don’t feel that way!” she said on the BBC’s Victoria ­Derbyshire show on Tuesday.

Kim Cattrall
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Time to change . . . Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall is unhappy with how older women are portrayed on TVCredit: Getty Images
Kim Cattrall
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Simply unimaginable . . . Kim Cattrall says Samantha broke the mould for the older womanCredit: Getty Images

Kim is best known for her role as Samantha, the sexy one in Sex And The City, but is now focusing on being an executive producer.

And, funnily enough, she almost turned down that TV role because she felt she was too old when it was originally offered to her.

“When the show began I was 41. I felt I was too old to be sexy — I was being ageist about myself,” she said in a ­magazine interview.

Kim Cattrall
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Trailblazer . . . Kim Cattrall feels she is not sexy by modern Hollywood standardsCredit: PA:Press Association

“It was 1998 and a woman over 40 back then was just not viewed as vital or ­desirable. I didn’t think I could pull it off.

“I didn’t think people would believe in her like they did.

“But I was absolutely wrong. Samantha broke the mould for the older woman.”

I am not ready to play someone grotesque

Kim CattrallSex And The City star

It’s true her character was a bit of a trailblazer, so I guess that is ­something to focus on — and things have improved when it comes to our perception of older women.

But I wonder if the success of the role meant Kim the actress was typecast as a result, possibly in her mind as well as the mind of casting agents.

Even though she clearly puts a lot of effort into looking after herself, she feels she isn’t considered sexy by Hollywood standards and that is her main complaint.

And if ever there is a place where inequality exists it is Hollywood. Clearly, there is no denying that a double standard exists when it comes to evaluating men and women.

Kim’s big breakthrough role in 80s film Mannequin
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Starting out . . . Kim’s big breakthrough role in 80s film Mannequin
Kim is well known for playing the highly-sexed Samantha Jones in Sex and The City
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Ready for love . . . Kim is well known for playing the highly-sexed Samantha Jones in Sex and The City

As they get older, male actors become more distinguished.

Think Tom Cruise, 54, or Russell Crowe, 53. They still play opposite leading ladies in their twenties.

Whereas it is simply unimaginable that a woman in her fifties would have an on-screen love interest in his twenties — unless, that is, it was a Mrs Robinson-type plot and the age gap was pivotal to the storyline.

Although who knows, back in the real world, perhaps the new ­President of France, Emmanuel ­Macron and his lovely wife, Brigitte, who happens to be 25 years older than her husband, will mark the start of a new, successful relationship role model for the world.

Sixtysomething men in Hollywood are still going strong, too, and often the characters they play are strong and sexy.

Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Pierce Brosnan, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere and Ted Danson are all in their ­sixties. Harrison Ford is in his seventies. And Robert Redford is 80, for goodness sake.

To be fair, there are still a fair few high-profile actresses who are still drawing a huge audience for their skills.

Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, for example.

There’s also Monica Bellucci, Charlotte Rampling, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Salma Hayek, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon (who, at 70, wowed audiences when she hit the red carpet at Cannes this week looking nothing short of a million dollars).

Still, most actresses seem to agree that the nature of the roles they are offered change with age.

 Happy pair . . . Goldie Hawn has revealed the secret to her happy relationship with Kurt Russell
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Happy pair . . . Goldie Hawn has revealed the secret to her happy relationship with Kurt RussellCredit: Splash News
 Red-hit lady . . . Goldie Hawn is an American actress and producer
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Red-hit lady . . . Goldie Hawn is an American actress and producerCredit: Getty Images

The real issue with ageism is that it is far more ­pronounced in the worlds where women are valued and judged mainly for their looks.

How do I know this?

I have absolutely no concerns at all that I will be affected by ageism in my industry.

And that’s because, in my job, I’m not judged on my looks, which have nothing to do with my brain.

Even when I’m on The ­Apprentice, I’m not there for my looks or dress sense or hair. I’m there because of my business career.

The minute women are judged solely on their looks, their opportunities are limited — and dwindle with each passing day.

But when they are judged on their ability, skills and experience, the opportunities become vast.
Having said that, well done Kim for working out a Plan-B career at the age of 60.

Because in an industry where ­ageism is still rife, the best weapon in your arsenal is to diversify.


Real value of drama

Three Girls
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Real drama of value . . . Three Girls is one of the most harrowing dramas Brady has ever seenCredit: PA:Press Association

THREE Girls, the BBC drama about Rochdale, is one of the most harrowing TV dramas I’ve ever watched. Except it’s not just drama, it’s real life.

These girls, played by actors and many others were abused by the despicable human garbage that snaked their way into their vulnerable lives.

It’s easy to despair that this is an endemic problem and lay the blame at the various authorities that appeared to turn their backs on the girls.

But the truth is this type of thing is still going on and, if nothing else, the show has brought this to light.



Don't be afraid of F-word

Kara McCullogh
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Miss USA . . . Kara McCullough, 25, is a nuclear chemist and has just been crowned Miss USACredit: Splash News

I’M so interested to see that the newly crowned Miss USA, who is also a nuclear chemist, believes in equality and refuses to use the F-word to describe herself.

Kara McCullough, 25, said: “I don’t want to call myself a feminist,” when asked in the final round of the competition if she’d use the word to describe herself.

She went on to say: “Women, we are just as equal as men, especially in the workplace.”

Kara McCullough
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Equal footing . . . Kara McCullough doesn't want to be called 'a feminist'Credit: Getty Images
Kara McCullough
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Reluctant hero . . . Kara McCullough believes in equality in the workplaceCredit: Splash News

Which is true, but it does make me really wonder why McCullough and so many other young women of her generation are reluctant to call themselves feminists.

I guess that, over the years, the word has become associated with militant, hairy-armpitted, dungaree-clad aggression.

But ladies – and gents – I really think it’s time to take back ownership of this word.

In some people’s minds feminism equals unfeminine.

But they are really missing the point. It has nothing to do with that and everything to do with equality.

Perhaps the word has been corrupted over the years and is even used as an insult by some. But in my view every woman and every man should – loudly and proudly – call themselves a feminist.


Fashion fails

romper suit
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Fashion fail 1 . . . romper suits for men

SO romper suits for men are now a thing? All I can say is no. Just, no.

I’m all for comfort but – just like super-skinny jeans on men, which are also wrong – this is a bridge too far.

Not to mention the fact that the day your man turns up in a romper suit is the day you realise you’ve turned a corner in the relationship and become “more like brother and sister”.

Oh Lord, let’s just hope it doesn’t catch on.

tape
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Fashion fail 2 . . . ladies wearing tape (and just tape)Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

TALKING of dodgy fashion trends, can you imagine a world where a man went out naked, covered only in strategically placed strips of electrician’s tape?

No, neither can I. But apparently this is a new thing that some women are doing.

Quite apart from the fact that you are basically leaving the house naked, I find myself wondering about the practicalities – like how you go to the loo.

Princess for a day

PIPPA MIDDLETON is coming under some scrutiny and criticism for some of her extravagant wedding choices.

But look at it this way – maybe, since her parents probably didn’t have to shell out for their other daughter’s wedding, they’ve got a bit more cash to play with for this one.

But also, as a mum and dad, you want to treat your children equally.

So, if they can afford it, who can blame the Middletons for wanting Pippa to feel like a princess for the day, too?

Meet the 'throuple'

Adam Lyons
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Meet the 'throuple' . . . Adam has two girlfriends Brooke and Jane – and they all live togetherCredit: Rex Features

EVER felt your nuclear family is a bit boring?

If so, Adam Lyons, who is a Brit living in Texas, would probably agree.

Adam has two girlfriends Brooke and Jane – and they all live together.

Adam Lyons
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Nuclear family? . . . Adam's girlfriend Jane is expecting and they all plan to raise the children togetherCredit: Rex Features

Adam and Brooke already have a son together and now Jane is expecting.

And they intend to bring the baby up as a – wait for it – “throuple”.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy but I’m afraid I can’t help thinking that this won’t end well.

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