Robin Wright on Filming in the UK, 'The Girlfriend,' and Gender Equality

Reflections on the UK and US

• 🇬🇧 Robin Wright expresses a sense of relief being in the UK, citing a perceived hateful energy and uncertainty in America.
• 🏞️ She finds the UK countryside tranquil and its people kind and thoughtful, offering a peaceful contrast to the perceived ugliness elsewhere.
• 🎬 Wright has been working extensively in the UK for the past three years, finding a strong sense of team with UK-based crews.

Exploring 'The Girlfriend' Series

• 🎭 The series, filmed in London, explores the complex relationship dynamics between a mother (Laura), her son (Daniel), and his girlfriend (Cherry).
• 👩‍👦 Laura is depicted as an overprotective and possessive "boy mom" suspicious of Daniel's girlfriend.
• 💔 The narrative features dual perspectives, with characters fighting for the love of the same man, questioning why they can't coexist.
• 💍 The show also touches on modern marriage, including an open marriage, which Wright finds unrealistic for her personal life.

Directing and Gender Equality

• 🎬 Wright discovered a passion for directing on "House of Cards" after being compelled to take on multiple roles to achieve equal pay.
• 💡 She describes directing as a "gift," learning from her camera operator and the show's team.
• ⚖️ Wright advocates for gender equality, emphasizing that equal pay should be standard for equal work, and hopes younger generations will embrace this.
• 🗣️ She notes that while progress has been made since movements like Times Up and Me Too, she is unsure if there has been any regression due to her limited time in America.

Hollywood vs. Washington D.C.

• 🎬 Reflecting on "House of Cards," Wright notes that writers often consulted advisors who found the show's most far-fetched plots to be plausible within Washington D.C.
• 🏛️ She contrasts the perceived deception in D.C. with Hollywood, with one advisor stating, "It's DC is worse than Hollywood."
• 🤯 Current political realities are described as so extreme that they make fictional portrayals, even those of the Underwoods, seem benign.
• 📺 The escalating shock value in real life makes it challenging for dramas to create content that is both extreme and relatable, requiring "aha" moments to hook viewers.