Mary Queen of Scots director defends her decision to show menstrual blood on screen and says she wants to 'normalise' it
All hail director Josie Rourke, who's been battling body-shaming with her forthcoming period drama, Mary Queen of Scots.
Starring Saoirse Ronan as Mary and Margot Robbie as her rival Elizabeth I, the BAFTA-nominated movie has been making waves for showing a rare depiction of menstrual blood, which, predictably, has got a lot of people talking.
Speaking to the Press Association, Rourke underlined the creative decision as imperative to normalising women's bodies.
"In America I was asked "how difficult was it to shoot that menstrual blood scene?"
"But it was probably the most straightforward scene that we shot because there were six women there and we all know what happens and we all know what to do.
"I think that it's probably one of the few contexts in which I can say normalisation is a good thing, we just need to see that, because it happens to pretty much half of us at some point in our lives and that we've not shown it before is probably just a bit disappointing more than anything else".
What's more, it's an important thematic inclusion, as the blood symbolises the scrutiny Mary is under to procreate. The scene comes after Mary's marriage to Henry Darnley, so the pressure on the Queen to produce an heir would have been intense.
Rourke also highlighted the similarities between how women in power were treated in the Renaissance compared to the modern day, regardless of their ruling status.
Rourke added that her storytelling had been informed by the lack of female representation in film, inspiring her to bring her experience of working in a male-dominated industry to the big screen.
Starring three-time Oscar nominee – and the Meryl Streep of our generation - Saoirse Ronan and Oscar nominee, Margot Robbie, the film will surely set the awards season alight with these game-changer AND face-changing performances. Plus, keep an eye out for Mr Taylor Swift, Joe Alwyn, who joins the supporting cast.
The film will focus on Mary Queen of Scots’ (Saoirse) attempts to overthrow Elizabeth’s throne and rule over both nations. In a time of kings, two queens are the most powerful women in the world and through a series of treacherous moves, the women are locked in severe battle.
But that isn’t the only thing the actresses had to content with – their unrecognisable appearances will get everyone talking. In the trailer, Margot is seen as a Queen Elizabeth I ravished with rage and age - wigs off to the hair department, especially!
Speaking about undertaking the iconic role, previously played by the likes of Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren, Margot told EW, “Everyone manipulated their relationship, it’s complicated, it’s tragic, and it’s bizarre. The only other person in the world who could understand the position they were in was each other.”
So, it’s safe to say this new retelling of this iconic tale will not hold back on the costume or the drama.
'Mary Queen of Scots' is released in UK cinemas on 18th January 2019.
In the meantime here are all the new movies we're being blessed with in 2019
