Actress Maria Furtwängler has expressed concern over a perceived decline in interest surrounding topics like gender equality and diversity within the film industry. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” the actress feels that the high level of awareness regarding diversity issues has noticeably waned. While she notes that many broadcasters still maintain a certain consciousness of the issues, this awareness is no longer pursued with the same aggressive intensity.
Furtwängler observes that the global trend, which saw companies pulling away from collaborations with those who had diversity clauses-a movement originating in the US-is being reversed, which has an effect even on German TV broadcasters. She finds this disheartening, stating, “This is depressing because I believe that more visibility for women and more women in leadership positions are incredibly helpful in seriously addressing problems.”
Regarding challenges in her career, she also points out that roles offered to older women are becoming less frequent. Women are progressively disappearing from the screen as they age, a trend she is personally noticing. She admits that while she received more opportunities in her thirties than she does now, this is a noticeable shift.
The actress, who will turn 60 on September 13th, feels more confident now than she did in her younger years. While she could certainly dwell on how life is no longer perfectly polished and snappy due to aging, she reports being immensely grateful for the functional state of her body. She contrasts this with her younger self, when she used to be more preoccupied with whether her figure should conform to certain ideals, such as having a certain shape or larger bust. Thankfully, she says, this pressure to fit a specific mold or appeal to others diminishes as one gets older.
