Milla Jovovich is over being a damsel in distress
Strong is the new skinny and badass is the new damsel in distress according to Milla Jovovich. Recently, The New York Times did a story featuring movie stars who can handle things on they’re own, thank you very much. (Spoiler: it’s as inspiring and empowering as you’d expect.) Among the badasses, Milla Jovovich (who’s no stranger to being an empowering advocate) had a thing or two to say about the power of fighting against misogyny in Hollywood.
Milla, (who of course you know from Resident Evil, The Fifth Element, and The Messenger) recalls seeing Alien when she was 11 or 12 and being completely bowled over by Sigourney Weaver’s performance.
She said, “I never knew a woman could do that – it made me want to be able to go into battle and be a warrior.
The Resident Evil star went on to say that kind of performance blazes a trail for the actresses that follow.
Milla elaborated on her point saying, “We live in a patriarchal society. It’s important to show women in positions of power. If audiences go to see women in action, that means they believe a woman can do that.”
That being said, the actress had a level head about the realities of society.
“There’s always going to be some voyeuristic misogyny, she added.
But she doesn’t have to be a damsel in distress. Milla admitted, “When I did ‘The Fifth Element,’ I realized I was never going to be the girl in the movie that goes ‘watch out’ or ‘help me.’” For Milla, the time for being helpless simply because she’s a woman has passed.
Now, she wants to be an inspiration.
We’re here to say, you are Milla. Your performance as Alice in Resident Evil is the new Ellen in Alien. You’re the exact opposite of a damsel in distress. You are a total badass.
