She took on the role of controversial tennis legend Margaret Court in the upcoming comedy flick Battle of the Sexes starring Steve Carrell and Emma Stone.
And Australian actress Jessica McNamee has spoken about the challenges of playing the tennis icon in light of her recent call to boycott Qantas over the airline’s support of same-sex marriage.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Jessica admitted that, while she was apprehensive about taking on the role, the fact that she didn’t see eye-to-eye with Margaret in the marriage equality debate actually helped her in the long run.
‘It gives you an icky feeling’: Australian actress Jessica McNamee has spoken about the challenges of playing tennis icon Margaret Court in light of her recent call to boycott Qantas over the airline’s support of same-sex marriage
‘It’s scary but a little bit of pressure has come off me because she’s made these statements, if she hadn’t done that it would have been a lot scarier,’ she explained.
‘I want to make people happy, so when you’re playing someone like that it gives you an icky feeling, (because) this is different to my opinions.’
Earlier in the year the actress took to Instagram to speak about her thoughts following Margaret’s controversial anti same-sex marriage statements.
‘This ‘Margaret Court’ believes in marriage equality’: Earlier in the year the actress took to Instagram to speak about her thoughts following Margaret’s controversial anti same-sex marriage statements
‘This ‘Margaret Court’ believes in marriage equality and supports any corporation that does the same,’ she wrote while using the trending hashtag #sayidownunder.
Elaborating on her views, Jessica told The Daily Telegraph that she agreed Margaret had every right to voice her opinion, but that she didn’t share the same views.
‘Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, mine is very different to Margaret’s,’ she said.
‘I’m not judging anyone for their opinion, I just have a very different one’: Jessica told The Daily Telegraph that she agreed Margaret had every right to voice her opinion, but that she didn’t share the same views
‘I’m not judging anyone for their opinion, I just have a very different one.’
Battle Of The Sexes follows the real-life story of legendary tennis great Billie Jean King, who beat Bobby Riggs in an 1973 tennis match that served as a victory for the women’s movement at the time.
The film is set for theaters September 2017.
Game on! Battle Of The Sexes follows the real-life story of legendary tennis great Billie Jean King, who beat Bobby Riggs in an 1973 tennis match that served as a victory for the women’s movement at the time