GIRLS ON FILM
Not content with just being in front of the camera, many actresses are earning behind-the-scenes credits, too
The actresses kicking ass both in front of and behind the camera.
Awards season saw hordes of actresses publicly declare #Timesup on everything from sexual harassment to pay disparity, but many have been quietly working to claim their dues behind the scenes, too – taking up the job of producer between blockbuster roles and helping to reframe the kind of stories told and roles played in an industry notoriously shaped by men.
This month, a number of stars will light up the big screen while also working behind the camera on other projects. Peter Rabbit makes the jump from childhood bedtime story to the silver screen thanks to Margot Robbie (the voice of Flopsy) and Rose Byrne (Bea) – two women who may also someday get comfortable in the director’s chair (in light of the current stats on the lack of women in such roles, it can’t come soon enough). As well as establishing her reputation as a talented comedic actress, Byrne, together with a number of friends including writers, producers and content makers such as Gracie Otto and Jessica Carrera, is on a mission to “focus on being champions of change, risk-takers, friends and passionate storytellers” with the production company, Dollhouse Pictures.
Robbie, fresh from the success of I, Tonya (a movie she starred in and produced), has caught the creative bug of filmmaking. Her company, Luckychap Entertainment, has a slew of projects in production, including TV show Shattered Glass – touted as “House Of Cards meets Revenge”, it’s about a group of women in finance who are fed up with Wall Street’s chauvinistic culture. Two films, Terminal and Dreamland, are also set for release shortly.
When she wasn’t in her khaki cut-offs and kicking ass as Lara Croft in the new iteration of Tomb Raider, Alicia Vikander was working on the first project under her label, Vikarious Productions. She cast Eva Green and eternal screen legend Charlotte Rampling for Euphoria, a drama about two estranged sisters who reunite and end up at a creepy resort.
Then there’s Reese Witherspoon, one of the most note-worthy stars to make the leap from leading lady to start-up success story. While her company Pacific Standard preps for the calendar-clearing magic that will be season two of Big Little Lies, she will be busy chatting about what it was like to run lines with Oprah and take direction from Ava Duvernay on the set of one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year, A Wrinkle In Time.