Russell Crowe slammed for comment 'Hollywood actresses need to act their age'

Russell Crowe received a backlash from hoard of online users after he said that Hollywood actresses past the age of 40 should take up roles according to their age.

Though statistics show that actresses over 40 made up just 30% of all characters in movies last year, with even Oscar-winning star Meryl Streep admitting she thought her career was over once she hit 40, Crowe, believes they would do just fine if they act like their age, Stuff.co.nz reported.

During an interview while promoting his new film The Water Diviner, the 50-year-old actor said that 40 above actresses still want to be portrayed as the 21-year-old ingenue, but it didn't work like that.

The actor added that "if you are willing to live in your own skin, you can work as an actor."

Crowe's comments quickly sparked critcism amongst online users, with a female fan writing "Funny how Crowe doesn't bother to offer any opinion about the mind boggling legacy of Hollywood men playing romantic leads to women 10, 20, 30, and sometimes 40 (!!!!!) years younger than them. Because it's clearly the sad old women daring to pretend they are outside their actual birth ages that are ruining Hollywood."