Martin Freeman Reacts the Controversies of the Age Gap Romance with Jenna Ortega in Miller’s Girl
Martin Freeman finally responded to the controversies regarding the age gap relation between Jenna Ortega in the film Miller’s Girl. In a recent interview with The Times of London, the actor said that the movie is “grown up and nuanced” and added that it was a shame, as the film dealing with challenging subjects faced backlash from the people. He also gave an example of Liam Neeson in Schindler’s List.
The erotic thriller Miller’s Girl was released in the theatre in January of this year. In the film, Ortega plays the role of 18-year-old writing student Cairo Sweet, and Freeman plays Jonathan Miller, a teacher of creative writing class. The story follows the intimate relationship between the student and the teacher developed during a writing assignment.
When the Miller’s Girl trailer was released, it sparked some controversies on social media. Some people expressed their shock about the intimate scene between Ortega and Freeman. The intimacy coordinator, Kristina Arjona, said in an interview that the costars were comfortable while filming the scene.
She said that many people were engaged throughout the process to make Jenna comfortable, and Ortega was determined about what she wanted to do. She also added that she ensured the actors’ comfort level, especially because of the large age gap.
Jenna Ortega hasn’t commented on the controversies yet. In an interview in August 2023, Freeman said that it was a “gutsy script” and “uncomfortable.” He told about Ortega that she was extremely talented and wise beyond her age.
The film was directed and written by Jade Halley Bartlett and released on January 26, 2024. The viewers criticized the film for its portrayal of such relationships. The taboo subjects have sparked debates among the audiences. Despite the presence of two skilled actors and a relevant story, the film failed at the box office; it didn’t even collect $1 million in the theatres.
More than its controversial content, the film was influenced to change the guidelines for intimacy coordinators by SAG-AFTRA, which ensures that actors’ consent is needed for intimacy coordinators before discussing any details in public. They will be removed from the registry if they fail to follow the rules.
The two-time Emmy Awards winner Martin Freeman acted in several hit movies, including Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, The World’s End, and Shaun of the Dead. He also worked in the series Sherlock, Fargo, and Secret Invasion. He will be part of the second season of The Responder on BBC.
Jenna Ortega is famous for playing the titular character on Wednesday on Netflix. She also starred in the series Jane the Virgin, Stuck in the Middle, and You. She will also be part of the upcoming films, including Winter Spring, Summer or Fall, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and Kiara and the Sun.