The drama film Women Talking is likely to be among this year's best movie releases. Making its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in early September followed by a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, this is the fourth feature film directed by Sarah Polley, who also served as writer. Polley directs an all-star cast featuring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, and Frances McDormand, among many other performers. McDormand, besides being part of the cast, also served as a producer for the film.
Women Talking follows a group of women living in an isolated religious colony who are subjected to sexual and physical abuse by the male members of the community. Eventually, these women take advantage of the men's absence to contemplate their options and decide whether to stay and fight, run away, or simply stay put and carry on as before. The movie is an adaptation of the 2018 novel by Miriam Toews, which is inspired by true events that took place in Manitoba Colony, an ultraconservative Mennonite community in Bolivia.
The film is expected to hit theaters on December 2, and before that, it will have a third screening at the 60th New York Film Festival in October 2022. Still, it has received rave reviews so far, scoring 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, per The Hollywood Reporter, Women Talking was voted as the runner-pp for the People's Choice Award at TIFF, and its director was honored with the Telluride Film Festival Silver Medallion tribute award. This article looks back at the most important roles of the cast leading up to this film.
Rooney Mara
Rooney Mara is an award-winning performer whose career is steadily on the rise. She made her first steps in the industry starring in independent films, such as The Winning Season and Tanner Hall, but began to gain recognition with a role in David Fincher's The Social Network in 2010. One year later, she was called back by the director, this time to star in one of her most acclaimed films: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars. Over the course of her career, Mara has also appeared in hits such as Her and Carol. At the moment, Rooney is working on the film adaptation of the play The Kitchen, under the direction of Alonso Ruizpalacios.
Claire Foy
Claire Foy gained worldwide recognition for her brilliant portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the early seasons of the Netflix series The Crown. Prior to that role, the actress had been working in theater, film, and television for several years. Her acting debut was in 2008, as part of the TV series Being Human and the stage play DNA, at the Royal National Theatre. Foy boasts an extensive career in TV, and took part in shows such as Little Dorrit, Wolf Hall, and A Very British Scandal. Among her most memorable films are Steven Soderbergh's Unsane, The Girl in the Spider's Web, and First Man, for which she was widely nominated.
Jessie Buckley
The career of actress and singer Jessie Buckley kicked off with her appearance on the TV talent show I'd Do Anything, and from then on, she never stopped. The artist has worked in theater, film, and television, and is currently venturing into the world of videogames by playing Kate Wilder in The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, to be released this November 2022. Some of her most renowned films are Beast, I'm Thinking of Ending Things and The Lost Daughter. She has also been involved in major TV productions such as Fargo and Chernobyl.
Frances McDormand
Over the course of her nearly 40-year career, Frances McDormand has smashed many records with her impeccable performances. Best known for her roles in indie films, McDormand starred in productions such as Fargo, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Nomadland, for which she was awarded three Oscars for Best Actress, making her the second woman in history to win that category three times. For her work as a producer on Nomadland, she also won an Oscar for Best Picture, becoming the first person ever to win Best Actress and Best Picture for the same film. McDormand has also had roles in blockbusters such as Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, where she voiced Captain Chantel DuBois, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Judith Ivey
By the time Judith Ivey made her film and TV debuts, she was already a major Broadway actress, honored with two Tony Awards for her work in Steaming and Hurlyburly. Ivey made cameo appearances in a number of TV series, such as Will & Grace, Grey's Anatomy, and New Amsterdam. Her film debut was in 1984, alongside Steve Martin in the movie The Lonely Guy. Among her best-known movies are The Devil's Advocate and Flags of Our Fathers.
Sheila McCarthy
Many viewers may know Sheila McCarthy for her role as Agnes in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, but this renowned actress and singer has been a part of many, many more hits that made her one of Canada's most awarded performers. On stage, McCarthy starred in productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Hamlet, and Cabaret. For her film debut in the 1987 motion picture I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, she won a Genie Award for Best Actress, and in 1993 she was again awarded for The Lotus Eaters. She also appeared in several TV shows, including Emily of New Moon and Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Ben Whishaw
Perhaps the best-known character of actor and producer Ben Whishaw is the adorable bear named Paddington, star of the 2014 film and its follow-up in 2017. Prior to that role, Whishaw had been performing for several years in major film, television, and stage productions. Among his best-known films are Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die, all part of the Daniel Craig-led James Bond Series, The Danish Girl, and The Personal History of David Copperfield. While his career in TV is not as extensive, he was also featured in shows such as Criminal Justice, Fargo and, naturally, The Adventures of Paddington.