Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal told The Wrap Magazine that she was turned down for a part because of her age.

"I'm 37, and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55," "The Honorable Woman" star said. "It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh."

But many in Hollywood aren't laughing. Actresses have long complained that they stop being offered leading roles by the time they turn 40, and aging male stars are often paired with female love interests young enough to be their daughters (see gallery above).

Gyllenhaal, who has romanced such older actors as James Spader (18 years' age difference) and Will Ferrell (10 years' age difference) onscreen, in is in good company.

Here are just a few other stars who have also spoken out about ageism and sexism in the industry:

Patricia Arquette

Arquette, 47, inspired quite a few in February when she called for wage equality during her acceptance speech for the Academy Award for best supporting actress for "Boyhood."

"To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights. It's our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America."

Patricia Arquette's rallying cry unites Hollywood against gender inequality