From a turn-of-the-century transgender advocate (Alicia Vikander in The Danish Girl) to two '50s-era lesbian lovers (Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in Carol), from a feral post-Civil War fugitive (Jennifer Jason Leigh in The Hateful Eight) to a '90s mogul-in-the-making (Jennifer Lawrence in Joy), this year's Oscar-nominated female roles offer up an unusual depth and breadth of female characters, constructs, eras, epochs, achievements – and ages.
Ranging from 21-year-old Saoirse Ronan to 70-year-old Charlotte Rampling, the 10 nominees for lead and supporting actress span a staggering five decades. That is astonishing, given Hollywood's notorious age bias.