Actress Neus Asensi: 'I paid the price for being an erotic myth, and when you age, the industry doesn't know what to do with you'

Spanish actress Neus Asensi, known for her roles in films like "Torrent" and "Marujas Asesinas," reflects candidly on the challenges faced by actresses in the entertainment industry as they age. Residing in a picturesque cortijo in Gata, she shared her thoughts on the industry's treatment of women past their perceived prime.

Asensi stated that she "paid the price for having been an erotic myth." She explained that once actresses are typecast with such labels, the predominantly male-dominated industry often doesn't know how to reposition them as they mature. Despite possessing comedic talent and a willingness to perform dramas, her image as an "explosive, brazen, or funny woman" often overshadowed other aspects of her acting capabilities, leading to limited roles, particularly maternal ones.

"They don't want women they desired to grow old," Asensi commented, highlighting a societal and industry bias against aging female stars. She acknowledged that her characters were often defined by her physique, a choice she doesn't regret. Asensi asserted that performing in "rowdy comedies" using both physical presence and talent requires significant precision and dramatic intelligence, emphasizing that making millions laugh is a difficult feat.

She further argued that talent itself does not age or wrinkle; rather, it refines and polishes with time. However, Asensi noted that achieving leading roles in one's 60s often requires adhering to unrealistic aesthetic standards. The industry, she contends, rewards an "impostor youth" while penalizing genuine maturity, often relegating older actresses to secondary, satellite characters.