Anya Taylor-Joy, the star of the upcoming “Mad Max: Fury Road” prequel, “Furiosa,” is making waves with her advocacy for female rage in cinema. In a recent interview, Taylor-Joy discussed the importance of allowing female characters to express their emotions, particularly through moments of anger and catharsis.
Taylor-Joy referenced director George Miller’s belief that silent performances can be powerful, citing examples of Holly Hunter and Jane Wyman winning Oscars for their mute performances. However, Taylor-Joy felt that her character, Furiosa, deserved a moment of eruption to convey the character’s inner turmoil.
“I am a really strong advocate of female rage,” Taylor-Joy stated. “There’s a point where somebody just snaps. There’s one scream in that movie, and I am not joking when I tell you that I fought for that scream for three months.”
During the filming of “Fury Road,” Charlize Theron, who played Furiosa in the original film, also fought for a similar moment of catharsis for her character. Theron’s improvised scene of Furiosa letting out a primal scream became one of the film’s most iconic moments.
Taylor-Joy revealed that she engaged in intense debates with Miller about her character’s choices, even breaking down in tears at one point. Despite her passion, Taylor-Joy emphasized the importance of always respecting Miller’s vision.
“I wanted to make sure that I was never insolent in any way, that it was always a conversation,” Taylor-Joy said. “At the end of the day, this is his vision. I can present everything that I have, but his word goes.”
As Taylor-Joy prepares to bring Furiosa to life in the highly anticipated prequel, fans can expect a powerful and emotionally resonant performance that challenges traditional notions of female characters in action films.
