Why the Path to Stardom for Actresses is More Complex Than It Appears

Another consideration is the role of franchises. While films like Barbie have proven the immense power of a female-led project, the most dominant, long-running film franchises—from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Mission: Impossible—are still overwhelmingly centered on male characters. These mega-franchises offer actors not just high salaries but also decades of consistent work and global recognition, a type of sustained opportunity that has historically been less common for actresses.