Carey Mulligan plays one of two New York Times reporters who exposed the sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein in the new film She Said.
And in a recent interview at the Los Angeles premiere, the British actress confessed to feeling a “weight of responsibility” to do justice to her real-life character, as well as Weinstein’s victims.
This happens to be Mulligan’s first time playing a living person.
Heavy role: Carey Mulligan, 37, confessed she felt the ‘weight of responsibility’ playing one of two New York Times reporters who exposed the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein while filming the biographical drama film She Said; the actress is pictured at the She Said premiere in London on October 14
The Oscar-nominated actress plays Megan Twohey, who along with NYT colleague Jodi Kantor, played by Zoe Kazan, broke Weinstein’s story in 2017.
Their investigative work eventually uncovered the powerful film producer’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women that is believed to have spanned three decades.
The allegations also served as a catalyst for the nascent #MeToo movement and ultimately resulted in Weinstein being sentenced to 23 years in prison, although he could face more jail time with a new trial in Los Angeles and more charges. sexual assault charges in London.
Directed by Maria Schrader from a screenplay written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, She Said is based on the two journalists’ 2019 book of the same name.
In She Said, Mulligan (left) plays Megan Twohey and Zoe Kazan portrays Jodi Kantor, the two journalists who broke Weinstein’s story in 2017 and later chronicled their investigative work in a book of the same name that was published two years later.
Difficult: ‘I think we felt that weight of responsibility,’ the British actress said of playing a real character, while having the real victims still fresh in her mind
“I think we felt that weight of responsibility, and I’ve felt it in other jobs,” Mulligan, 37, said of her role in a story still so fresh in people’s minds. “I think when you play a real person you have that, but the stories we were telling felt so real and so fresh, and not just for the people involved in the film, but for the viewers, for an audience. ‘
She added, “You know this story will impact people who go to see it in theaters, so I think we all felt it was a big task and we took it very seriously.”
The film not only lays out the details of how the two journalists revealed Weinstein’s story, but also how the story impacted their lives.
In order to take a close look at both sides of this story, Mulligan was able to meet Twohey and gain “unfettered access” to his life. While spending some quality time together, the two ladies eventually hit it off and become friends.
“I’ve never played a person who’s still alive,” said the native of London, England. “I played real people, but I read autobiographies, so it was really exciting, and he’s just the coolest person. So I wanted to be her friend. I wanted her to love me.
Twohey and Kantor ended up winning a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the Weinstein affair.
Acclaimed real-life journalists: Jodi Kantor (left) and Megan Twohey (right) ended up winning a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the Weinstein affair
In total, more than 80 women have come forward and made allegations of sexual harassment and/or rape against Weinstein. Initially, he was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape in New York City in 2020, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
He is currently on trial in Los Angeles for further sexual assault allegations as he prepares to face further charges in London.
Along with Mulligan and Kazan, the film also stars Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, Sean Cullen, Angela Yeoh. Tom Pelphrey, Adam Shapiro, Anastasia Barzee, James Austin Johnson, Kelly McQuail, Sarah Ann Masse and Mike Houston as Harvey Weinstein.
After premiering at the 60th New York Film Festival on October 13 and the BFI London Film Festival the following day, the film made its Los Angeles debut at AFI Fest 2022 on Friday November 4.
She Said is set to hit theaters in the United States on November 18.
Making a splash: After premiering at the 60th New York Film Festival on October 13, She Said is set to hit theaters in the United States on November 18; Mulligan and Kazan are depicted in a scene from She Said
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