'Bodies are not honestly represented on screen': Emma Thompson, 63, says she 'struggles to look in the mirror' as she discusses the portrayal of sex in film and details her new steamy role
Emma Thompson has detailed her steamy new role in the upcoming film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and discussed her own body image issues on Wednesday.
The actress, 63, plays widower Nancy, who after experiencing an unfulfilled marriage, meets with a younger male escort in the search for self discovery.
Emma spoke of society's perceptions of women's bodies and sex, as depicted within the film, and admitted that she struggled to look at her own body in the mirror.
Candid: Emma Thompson, 63, has detailed her steamy role in the upcoming film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, and admitted she struggles to look at her own body
Summarising her opinion of the taboo topic, she said: 'The human body is not honestly represented on screen, pretty much ever, and especially not in my industry.'
Speaking to Lorraine Kelly in a candid conversation, Emma said of her character: 'She's someone who has been widowed and it looking back at her life and thinking, "I'm not sure that I've ever experienced that essential part of my life", or sexual pleasure of any kind.
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'She's never had an orgasm - not even on her own.'
Emma then detailed that women had been 'brainwashed' about their bodies as she discussed the impact of societal expectations and dishonesty surrounding sex.
Film: The actress, plays widower Nancy, who after experiencing an unfulfilled marriage, meets with a younger male escort (played by Daryl McCormack, 29) in the search for self discovery
Emma continued: 'I think we are quite dishonest about sex as a society, she [Nancy] has the courage to do it, but the reality of it is quite different.'
'I've had conversations with men in their eighties who say, "A lot of my friends brag about having great sex, but I don't think they are telling the truth."'
The actress then explained that her new role is a challenge for her as she was forced to face her own body image issues.
Role: Emma said of her character: 'She's someone who has been widowed and it looking back at her life and thinking, "I'm not sure that I've ever experienced that essential part of my life"
Emma revealed: 'I don't look in the mirror and if I do, I look away. We're brainwashed from very early on to not see something that we can't accept.
'It has been industrialised, the human body is not honestly represented on screen, pretty much ever, and especially not in my industry.'
'So, women's pleasure is never at the top of anyone's agenda and women don't know how to own up to it or ask their partners.'
Brave: Emma continued: 'I think we are quite dishonest about sex as a society, she [Nancy] has the courage to do it, but the reality of it is quite different' (Pictured in the film with Daryl)
On set: The actress then explained that her new role is a challenge for her as she was forced to face her own body image issues
Emma shared the difference between her body image struggles and that of her character in the movie in a recent chat to The Times.
She told the publication: 'When I’m looking in the mirror, I’m always trying to make myself look ‘better’ – turning this way or that, checking out my a**e, pulling something in. Simply revealing my utter incapacity to accept my body as it is.
'But in the movie, at that point, Nancy’s body has just given her these seconds of pure pleasure and she is marvelling at it – not ‘it’ as it looks, but ‘it’ as it has become to her. A place she can be happy. A place she can find genuine bliss,' she shared.
The role is a change for Emma, as she admitted during the interview that she has 'never really been offered sex scenes'.
Honest: Emma revealed: 'I don't look in the mirror and if I do, I look away. We're brainwashed from very early on to not see something that we can't accept'
The actress explained that she didn't feel as though she 'conformed' to the beauty standards of male film executives.
The upcoming film, which also stars Irish actor Daryl, 29, centres on Nancy - a 55-year-old RE teacher who, despite a 30-year marriage and two children, has never had an orgasm.
Now widowed and retired, Nancy decides to hire a good looking, young escort, Leo Grande, to see if she can finally experience sex in a different way.
The film, directed by Sophie Hyde, is set to be released on June 17.
Coming soon: The upcoming film, directed by Sophie Hyde, is set to be released on June 17 (Pictured with Lorraine)
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