During Hollywood's Golden Age, women were often cast in limited roles, with their careers frequently stalled or ended by the time they reached their 30s. The studio system perpetuated a culture of youth and beauty, with actresses often being typecast as ingénues or femme fatales. Mature women were largely absent from leading roles, and when they did appear, they were often relegated to playing maternal figures or villainous characters. The likes of Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich were notable exceptions, but even they faced significant pressure to conform to industry standards of beauty and youth.