Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – Press Conference
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Press Conference
Featuring Angelina Jolie (Maleficent), Elle Fanning (Princess Aurora) Chiwetel Ejiofor (Conall), Sam Riley (Diaval), Ed Skrein (Borra) and Harris Dickinson (Prince Phillip)
In UK Cinemas October 18th, 2019
by Laura Patricia Jones
In an age where Disney Princesses fight, fraternize and show their tough side to prove they’re strong … Maleficent celebrates a different kind of feminism.
On October 10th 2019 at the Mandarin Oriental Ballroom, the stars of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil stepped out to tell us about their characters and what to expect from the latest Disney live action film.
Some interesting points raised were that Aurora’s strength doesn’t come from her ability to sword fight, it’s in her kindness and her ability to stay true to herself… she wants to be a mother, she wants to be a wife and shows the strength that comes with this in a different way. This new responsibility is celebrated as courage and power rather than ‘damsel in distress’ style weakness and to quote Elle Fanning who returns to play this Disney fave, ‘It’s beautiful that she keeps her softness and vulnerability,’ and does it all in a pink dress! (Now this I can relate to!)
I was keen to hear what message the female leads felt this film gave to young girls…
Angelina Jolie (dressed in some mighty fine studded stilettos) stressed that this strength is not just about girls, ‘so often we see characters portrayed as ‘a strong woman,’ because ‘she has to beat the man or be like the man,’ whereas the message here is to respect the man… In the film the female characters all ‘very much need and love and learn from the man-and that’s the message for young girls… to find their own power but to respect the man,’ as they do so.
So take note from the Mistress of Evil girls and boys… you don’t have to wear armour to release your strong inner prince or princess!
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil hits cinemas October 18, 2019 and it’s safe to say I can’t wait!
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