Role reversal: Age is failing to reel in top Hollywood actresses

For years female Hollywood actresses went from vital, sexy, powerful roles to playing scheming mothers, witches, or Driving Miss Daisy-type characters once they turned 40.

But that tide may be turning. A Tinseltown survey reveals the most popular and widely recognised female stars are Meryl Streep, 63; Sandra Bullock, 48; Halle Berry, 46; Julia Roberts, 45; and Cameron Diaz, 40. And they’re earning the big bucks too. Nine of the top-10 biggest earning actresses last year were 37 or older.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 40, is the female lead in Iron Man 3 — the highest- earning film of 2013 so far.