Dame Emma Thompson Discusses “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande,” Double Standards in On-Screen Relationships
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains themes of a sexual nature and may not be suitable for all readers.
In promoting her upcoming film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Dame Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney) has been calling out the double standards present in many on-screen relationships. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which is directed by Sophie Hyde, sees Thompson’s character – a 55-year-old widow – hiring a sex worker in his early twenties, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Thompson discussed her role with the podcast CultureBlast, in which she pointed out how it is seen as acceptable for older male actors to portray romantic relationships opposite much younger actors, while the same is not true of older female actors. Her comments were quoted by Entertainment Weekly:
It’s completely acceptable for George Clooney – who is delightful – to have someone who is 40 years younger than him or 30 years younger than him. If I have someone playing opposite me in a romantic way, they have to exhume someone, because I’m 61 now. Do you see what I mean? It’s completely and utterly unbalanced.
Regarding Good Luck to You, Leo Grande specifically, Thompson added that she hopes her role “speaks to people.”
If ‘Leo Grande,’ the film that we make, speaks to people and people aren’t averse to seeing someone who’s 61 largely naked with a very much younger person, it’s going to be very interesting. We’ve got to keep being brave about that.
Director Sophie Hyde was quoted by Fox News on working with Thompson:
I’m thrilled to be working with the tremendously funny and heartbreakingly honest Emma Thompson to explore intimacy and desire, and to put on screen a relationship that feels unexpected and delightful.
According to Fox News, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande will begin production in London in 2021. The film was written by Katy Brand and will be produced by Debbie Gray.
Do you agree with Thompson’s comments? Are you looking forward to Good Luck to You, Leo Grande? Tell us in the comments below!
