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    1. Culture
    2. TV and Film

    Emma Thompson has had enough of the lies women are fed about romance

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 14 September 2018 In News

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    (Image credit: Rex)
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    Emma Thompson is known for being a champion of women. And from threatening to quit films for the body-shaming of her co-stars to her blunt words about sexual abuse in Hollywood, she is never afraid to call out what she thinks is wrong.

    This week was no exception as the 59-year-old took it upon herself to call out the lies women are fed about romance - and we think we might love her even more for it.

    During her appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival, Emma got very real about gender.

    'I was angry about the lies and fairytales that were sold to young women—that romance was the be-all and end-all,' she explained. 'It’s so annoying to be female and consistently going, "Have I got to see a f**king story again about a guy who does things that I’ve already seen a guy do a million times?" So I’m bored.'

    emma thompson

    Credit: REX

    But there's hope for the future it seems, with Emma explaining, 'I find it incredibly exciting at the moment because this new generation of girls — Generation Z, I believe — are challenging me all the time. I’m learning new things.'

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    She continued: 'Gender fluidity is fascinating to me. Every time someone says you’ve got to learn words like cisgender or trans, or when someone asks me to refer to “thee” or “thou” I get so excited ... We might have a generation — and God knows we need it — that may help us leapfrog the death throes of the old ways.'

    Here's hoping, Emma.

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    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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