Is Hollywood possibly getting smart and realizing that midlife actresses speak to us on many different levels? Whether it’s Jamie Lee Curtis (64), Jessica Chastain (44), Pamela Anderson (55), Michelle Williams (42), or Coolidge (61), these women are having their hopefully longer than 15 minutes of fame. At a time of life when, historically, actresses were put out to pasture, these women are dancing toward their crescendo. So, what’s happening? Here are some of my thoughts on why we’re seeing a rise in the “everywoman” midlife actress.

1. They’re accessible. This is a sharp departure from the ageless grace and seemingly unapproachable life of Helen Mirren or Dame Judi Dench. The characters these women inhabit are real and struggling with some of the relatable challenges of midlife.

2. They don’t take themselves too seriously. The Atlantic magazine recently offered this assessment of The White Lotus star, “Coolidge’s greatest feat as a comedic performer is her ability to make the audience share her curiosity and appreciation for her characters, many of whom were written to be the butt of jokes about older women…she doesn’t stop at making the audience laugh with her off-kilter line readings and impeccable timing. She uses her magic to turn objects of ridicule into objects of affection.”

3. They’re fun without being filthy. They’re funny, but not in a Roseanne Barr or Kathy Griffin way. They’re not upper or lower class. They’re decidedly middle class even if their characters (like Tanya on The White Lotus) are not.

Hollywood, we’re looking for more of this!