“There is certainly a big part of conditioning in society that still very much tells women that the most important thing is their appearance and their bodies and how they look. That’s a very, very strong message. I’m someone who is lucky enough to have gone to school and university. At times, I have just felt so irritated because what ultimately seemed like the most important thing was how I looked. I just thought, ‘Why do I bother?’. It’s changing, and I think women are learning to be valued for what they’re saying, doing and thinking, for who they are. But there’s still some strong messages saying what really matters is how you look in a bikini.”
I’ve been very fulfilled by my studies. English has helped me think in an analytical way. It’s helped me see the world from new perspectives. Diving into these stories and characters has given richness to my own life. And now, when I read scripts or look at stories, I have these references for a larger understanding of humanity. I’m sure it will make my job as an actress more interesting.
If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are, we can all be freer.