Apr 26, 2009, 4:00 GMT
Michelle Pfeiffer says actresses were once treated like prostitutes.
US actress Michelle Pfeiffer. She said: "I do think that, at one time, being an actress was the equivalent almost of being a prostitute. It garnered roughly the same respect. That's changed a lot, thank goodness."EPA/RAINER JENSEN
The 'Cheri' star believes women in Hollywood were looked down upon and didn't receive as much recognition as their male counterparts.
She said: "I do think that, at one time, being an actress was the equivalent almost of being a prostitute. It garnered roughly the same respect. That's changed a lot, thank goodness."
However, the 50-year-old beauty insists she has encountered more and more sexism the older she gets.
She said: "There is no question that the older you get, the fewer good roles there are."
Michelle also admitted she was "clueless" about her characters when she began her career and had to rely on other people for advice.
She said: "I remember when I did 'Scarface', I was so young. I had no idea who this person I was playing was. I really relied on the women around me, my make-up artist and my hairdresser, people who had more life experience, to tell me who she was. I was clueless."
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