It’s good to see a leading role for an unlovable woman, says Little Drummer Girl star
THE star of The Little Drummer Girl has hailed the “not lovable” female lead as a breakthrough for gender equality.
Based on the 35-year-old novel by John le Carré, the six-part series is set in a turbulent Middle East, when the Arab-israeli conflict was in full swing.
The story follows the entanglement of Charlie (Florence Pugh), a British actress, in a holiday romance which leads to a more sinister relationship with an Israeli intelligence agent, as they hunt the perpetrator of a series of bombings.
Pugh, who plays the lead role, said that her character is not necessarily likeable, and that this is a turning point for female roles.
“We are getting to a point now where it’s OK for women to not be lovable and maternal and wonderful to look at, or constantly being the kind, caring person. And it’s quite cool to see someone who’s a little bit rough around the edges,” she said.
Michael Shannon and Alexander Skarsgard, who also star in the series, which began on BBC One last night, said the embattled region in the Middle East has not changed much since the book was written.
Shannon added it was “upsetting” that a story set in the Seventies is so politically relevant to the present day.
Skarsgard added: “We were talking this morning about how relevant it is and how acute the situation is and the conflict, that 35 years later it almost makes you feel despondent because it’s not like we’re moving in the right direction or even moving toward. We’re taking major, major steps back.”
Shannon said that he was left upset by the parallels between the past and present in the region. “It is upsetting that these conflicts can’t seem to be resolved, no matter how much effort people put into it,” he said.
“So many people have tried so hard. I’ve never really understood it, personally. I understand being upset about the history of your people and wanting to rectify what you believe to be the wrongs that you’ve suffered but the cost just doesn’t seem to be worth it really.
“But who am I to say? It’s not necessarily something I’ve had to deal with personally, so it’s easy for me to judge from outside. But being a part of this project certainly brought me closer to it and helped me understand just how complex it all is.”