Men aging disgracefully on screen

There is yet another double standard in Hollywood and it goes like this – men are allowed to age and get fat without comment, whereas women in a similar position dare not add a kilo or the wrath of public indignation will hit them with the force of a tsunami.

Yes, I am talking about you, Johnny Depp; Exhibit A – your recent foray in the movie The Tourist. Your fans are not taking kindly to your bloated, fat faced appearance in Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s over hyped follow-up to The Lives of Others. And men, meanwhile, are enjoying your downfall.

Donald Clarke barely contained his glee after seeing a still from the movie, in which Depp looked – well, old and chubby. Clarke is the same age and admitted to sniggering "inappropriately." (Irish Times.com, 5 Jan, 2011)

He noted, however, that Depp's co-star, the gorgeous Angelina Jolie, looked amazing. And she did – graceful, elegant and famished. Not only has she given birth to three children, she still has cheekbones and a jaw sharper than Sissorhands.

Alas, not so, Depp. On www.thefablife.com Kate Spencer laments: "Beginning sometime in 2009, Johnny grew a gut which leaked into his face, turning those iconic cheekboners (copyrighted term) into chipmunk territory." (May 14, 2010)

Female fans on www.mumsnet.com deplored the loss of Depp's looks, notching up 48 posts on the subject. For example - "Depp, what has happened to him? He must finally have started to age because I think he looks awful."; "He does look bad. Never thought I'd say that!"; "He looks so ill, as if he's been pumped full of some awful medication!"; "He is getting old our JD, that's what's happening to him, I think!"; "He's looked so young for so long it is a bit upsetting to think the finger of time is ravaging."

The march of time is one that actresses do not get to follow and still have a viable career. Exhibit B – the January 2011 issue of The Australian Women's Weekly. From the cover, featuring 46-year-old Rebecca Gibney in a swimsuit, to a feature on Diane Keaton, looking stylish, energetic and trim at the age of 64, older actresses show they are dedicated to both their craft and their bodies. There is even a line up of women over 50 who have still got it – Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Annette Bening and Angelica Huston.

Interestingly, none of these talented actresses has had the luxury of "putting on weight for a role". Which is what George Clooney apparently did for several movies, ditto Matt Damon. Others just got fat and don't seem to care – hello Vince Vaughn, Val Kilmer, John Travolta – and of course, the late Marlon Brando At least Sting, at 59, is still lithe and limber, thanks to discipline and yoga. He admits "It's vanity, I don't want to go on stage looking like a fat git." (The Australian Women's Weekly, Jan 2011)

Being in a spotlight and looking like a "fat git" is simply not an option for women. Exhibit C: Vanessa Paradis - Johnny Depp's wife and mother of his two children and whose performance Heartbreaker is earning much praise. Kaleem Aftab gushes; "It's easy to understand why one would be jealous of Vanessa Paradis. The 37-year-old looks stunning, has just put in one of her finest acting turns in new romantic comedy Heartbreaker, is currently touring France promoting her greatest hits album and is, of course, Mrs Johnny Depp. Could life be any better?" (The Independent, 25 June 2010)

Paradis maybe a mother-of-two, but she didn't show up on the set of her movie sporting a double chin, cellulite and a muffin top, did she? It's a classic example of dancing backwards with high heels on – women have to do everything men do, but better.

Hand it to the men who care enough to make the effort. I am talking about the still damn hot and over 40 club; New Zealand operatic baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes (sigh – those tight leather shorts in Opera Australia's Don Giovanni!), Hugh Laurie, Daniel Craig, Clive Owen and the leader of the pack - David Duchovny, who thankfully leaves nothing to the imagination in the sizzling TV series Califonication. And thank you, George Clooney, for losing that Up in the Air pudge and firming up for The American – even if the movie's script was a little lame, the cinematography and your physique, toned and chiseled, was riveting.

Hollywood take note – women like to look. The gaze is no longer a male prerogative. Exhibit D; a Pirelli style calendar featuring buffed men advertising John West tuna, in this month's issue of The Australian Women's Weekly. Wearing fishing waders cut low so that their upper thighs and expanses of only barely covered pubic region are on display, Mr January through to Mr December are indeed as "perfectly cut" as the advertising proclaims. Someone send Johnny Depp a copy.

Evelyn Tsitas is the co-author of the parenting book Handle With Care. She is a PhD student at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: evelyntsitas@gmail.com

© Scoop Media