Despite Further Developing Their Craft, Female Actors Actually Get Paid Less As They Get Older

As we get further through our 20s, most of us have probably begun to realize that our impending 30s may be not so bad (after all, if Beyoncé is 32 and still looks that good, maybe there's some hope for the rest of us?).

But not so true if you're an aging Hollywood actress. According to a comprehensive study featured the Journal of Management Inquiry, female actresses over 34 see a major pay plateau followed by a steady decrease.

And in today's version of unfair gender stereotypes, male movie stars' salaries don't see the same dwindling with age.

The study, which surveyed the top 265 Hollywood stars from 1968 to 2008, concluded that male actors's average earning per film reaches a maximum at 51, and then remains stable after that.

The study cites a truly sad (but not totally unsurprising) reason for this trend: "Men's well-worn faces are thought to convey maturity, character and experience. A woman's face, on the other hand, is valued for appearing young."

This seems so wrong, especially when you chart Kate Winslet's hotness vs. that of Leo Dicaprio (not digging the beard, dude) since their "Titanic Days."

But probably more importantly, this study reaffirms that the movie industry (like many other professional realms) often places an increased emphasis on looks, which can result in a higher paygrade. Because, heaven forbid, people should be judged more on skill and craft (and compensated accordingly).

H/T: Huffington Post, Top Photo Credit: WENN