Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman for the cinematic masterpiece "The Favourite"... and the pivotal reasons underpinning her decision to unveil a hitherto unseen facet.
While engaging in the portrayal of an intimate moment with her co-star Olivia Colman, the versatile actress chose to cast aside a modest covering that concealed her breasts. Elaborating on her daring choice, Emma Stone offered her insights to The Hollywood Reporter.
"The fabric enshrouded me, embracing the scene we were weaving together. But as the cameras rolled, capturing numerous renditions of the scene, an impulse surged within me— a simple query: 'May I stand unadorned?' Olivia, with her characteristic charm, countered my proposal, advising against such an audacious move. Director Yorgos Lanthimos weighed in, posing the crucial inquiry: 'Is this the path you wish to tread?' My conviction was unwavering— 'Absolutely.' Thus, I embarked upon this course. To me, it was the embodiment of authenticity."
Within the tapestry of the film, Colman, who has gracefully assumed the mantle of Queen Elizabeth II in the esteemed series "The Crown," breathes life into the role of Queen Anne. Opposite her, Stone embodies the character of Abigail Masham, a spirited young woman endeavoring to captivate the Queen's heart.
This historical cinematic tableau, set against the backdrop of the 1700s, unfurls an all-female love triangle. Completing this trifecta is Weisz, channeling the essence of Abigail's cousin, Sarah Jennings Churchill. It is through this lineage that Winston Churchill traces his ancestry, while Sarah stands as a confidante and adviser to the Queen.
In a visual symphony captured for this week's cover of the illustrious Hollywood Reporter, the trio stands united.
Colman, poised on the brink of acclaim as a frontrunner for the coveted Best Actress Oscar, extolled the film's remarkable ability to portray women in their unfiltered authenticity.
"...women embrace the full spectrum of human experience— from the sublime to the mundane, from adoration to aversion, mirroring every facet of our male counterparts. The human tapestry knows no gender-based bounds. We are an intricate mosaic— a melange of the repugnant and the resplendent, the robust and the frail. This, indeed, is the essence encapsulated within 'The Favourite.' It redefines womanhood beyond the confines of antiquated fragility."
Weisz, in turn, reflected upon the role of men within the film's narrative, a narrative where male presence holds minimal prominence.
"It intrigues me that the men within 'The Favourite' embrace the rituals of adornment, donning makeup, blush, and lipstick, while perched upon elevated heels. They dance upon the periphery, embodying an air of whimsical absurdity. A secondary thought, they linger at the edges, a notion not foreign to reality, yet a rarity within the realm of cinema."
