Old movie heroine "in distress" (6)

I believe the answer is:

damsel

(Other definitions for damsel that I've seen before include "Medals (anag.)" , "An old girl, often in distress" , "Young woman (often in distress)" , "(Poetically) a young unmarried woman" , "Girl (literary)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Newsday.

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