Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher is petitioning for better screen roles for mature actresses. The 42-year-old insists she's constantly frustrated by the lack of choice for aging females, and even accuses her TV show bosses of failing to alleviate the dire situation.

She says, "I don't believe they intended to cast women over 40. We didn't look like we were over 40 and then after we were cast, we all realized that's what had happened."

Hatcher's Desperate Housewives co-stars Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, Nicollette Sheridan and Eva Longoria are aged 45, 44, 43 and 32 respectively.