Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan both are exceptional actresses. While one is an established actress with multiple blockbusters to her name, the latter is seemingly on the path to becoming one of the most prominent actresses in the film industry. Both Winslet and Ronan shared the big screen for the first time when they starred together in a romantic drama film in 2020- Ammonite.
Although the film is credited to battle social perceptions and stigma about lesbian relationships, it still drew a lot of controversies, especially about the s*x scenes between Winslet and Ronan. And the Titanic star couldn’t help but express how angry she was at viewers for creating unnecessary debates.
Kate Winslet Angry Over Debate About Her Lesbian S*x Scene
A romantic drama film, Ammonite is based on the life of the British paleontologist Mary Anning, portrayed by Kate Winslet. On the other hand, her ‘romantic’ interest in the film, Charlotte Murchison, is played by Saoirse Ronan. Murchison is the wife of Anning’s colleague, celebrated geologist Roderick Murchison.
While there is no historical account of them ever being involved romantically or Anning being a lesbian, the film takes creative liberties to perhaps make Anning a more nuanced character. Their lesbian relationship is hence surrounded by many debates and controversies, and the film has been reduced by many as a ‘lesbian s*x movie’, to which Winslet takes offense.
“So often when I read about other LGBTQ films, I will get so irritated when they say ‘the controversial sex scene,’ or ‘the much-talked-about sex scene,’ or ‘the highly anticipated intimate love story between two women or two men’.”
She then continues highlighting society’s perception of treating heterosexual love stories,
“It drives me f*cking crazy because we don’t do that with heterosexual love stories at all… Are we all then somehow culpable that we have allowed these heterosexual stereotypes to just lead the way? I guess maybe we are.”
The Dressmaker star isn’t the only one who takes offense, even her younger so-star felt dejected over the reaction.
Saoirse Ronan Wants To Normalize Same-Sex Relationships In Cinema
Much like Kate Winslet, the Little Women star Saoirse Ronan feels disappointment over people reducing such an important story to just a ‘lesbian s*x story’. While she hopes viewers would look beyond Anning and Murchison’s love story and give Anning the respect and recognition she actually deserves, she is also hopeful of same-sex relationships being normalized in cinema.
“There’s so much to be talked about with the film and the relationship between these two people. And that’s a part of it, but it’s not everything. But I do also get that the conversation needs to be had quite a bit more before we can go, ‘Alright, two women having sex, like we’ve, we’ve seen it.’ It’s not completely normalized yet, but hopefully we’re getting there.”
While there were certain not so appreciating voices, many expressed the film as being groundbreaking for depicting and exploring the themes of love, desire, and self-discovery while also glorifying Mary Anning’s contribution to paleontology.
Ammonite can be streamed on Hulu Plus.
Source: The Daily Beast
