Just in case you haven’t heard the news about an upcoming movie called Suffragette, let me fill you in. The movie is about a young suffragette named Maude (played by Carey Mulligan) who turns militant when peaceful protest starts falling on deaf ears. Meryl Streep will play Emmeline Pankhurst and I hear she’s going to be giving one of Mrs. Pankhurst’s historic speeches. Also in the film are some of my favorite British actors and actresses. All are incredible in historic roles—Helena Bonham Carter, Romola Garai (who was fabulous in The Crimson Petal and the White), Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, and Samuel West. It’s directed by Sarah Gavron and written by Abi Morgan. I chatted with Dr. Helen Pankhurst, Emmeline Pankhurst’s great granddaughter, a few days ago and she told me that she and some of the other Olympic opening ceremony suffragettes were going to be extras. I’m so happy for her. What a great experience that will be.
When I first started writing A MAD, WICKED FOLLY I always pictured Carey Mulligan in the role of Vicky (these days I go back and forth between Mulligan and Bel Powley) so I was even more excited when I heard she was playing Maude. The filming started on Monday and a few pictures were released. I really like this one of Mulligan climbing onto a horse bus because it’s exactly the thing that Vicky took when she was rushing to meet Will. Vicky discovered how slow it was and Will taught her how to use the Underground.
I cannot wait to see this, and I’m telling you right now I’d give just about anything to be an extra suffragette in this movie! Votes for women! I’ll yell the loudest. Promise.