Maggie Gyllenhaal, known for her acclaimed performances, has disclosed that a Hollywood producer informed her that she was too mature, at the age of 37, to portray the romantic interest of a 55-year-old man.

During an interview with The Wrap, Gyllenhaal expressed her astonishment at being labeled as “over the hill” in her mid-thirties, leading to a mix of emotions ranging from disappointment to amusement due to the absurdity of the situation.

She candidly shared, “There are aspects of being an actress in Hollywood that continue to be disheartening.

At 37, I was recently told that I was too advanced in age to be the partner of a man who was 55.

It was truly shocking to me.

Initially, it made me feel down, then it fueled my anger, and ultimately, it provoked laughter.”

The longstanding trend in Hollywood of casting significantly younger actresses opposite older male leads dates back to the industry’s golden era.

For instance, Kim Novak was half the age of 50-year-old James Stewart while filming the classic “Vertigo” in 1958.

In a more recent example, the latest Bond installment, “Spectre,” received accolades for its casting decision to pair 50-year-old Monica Bellucci with 47-year-old Daniel Craig.

However, the movie featured two other female characters, Léa Seydoux and Stephanie Sigman, both in their late twenties, adhering to the tradition of portraying love interests much younger than the male protagonist.

This pattern was evident in past Bond films, such as when 57-year-old Roger Moore engaged romantically with 29-year-old Tanya Roberts in “A View to a Kill,” Moore’s final portrayal of the iconic British spy.

Nonetheless, Hollywood is facing heightened scrutiny in 2015 for its lack of gender equality both on-screen and off-screen.

The American Civil Liberties Union recently announced plans to urge state and federal agencies to investigate the prevailing discrimination against aspiring and established female directors by major studios.

Furthermore, a report by the Center for the Study of Women in Television, Film & New Media at San Diego State University revealed that women only secured 12% of leading roles in the top 100 highest-grossing films of 2014.

At the Cannes Film Festival, the creators of the thriller “Sicario” disclosed that they encountered pressure from producers to change the lead character, an FBI agent portrayed by Emily Blunt, from female to male.

Additionally, research conducted last year highlighted that merely 22% of crew members involved in producing the most successful films of the past two decades were women.

Despite Gyllenhaal’s recent disheartening encounter, where she opted not to disclose the specific project or the older male actor involved, she remains optimistic about the evolving landscape for women in Hollywood.

She emphasized the inspiring work being done by numerous actresses who are portraying authentic and intricate female characters, expressing hope for a future filled with captivating opportunities.