Carey Mulligan says review implied she ‘wasn’t hot enough’ for Promising Young Woman role

‘Why does every woman who’s ever onscreen have to look like a supermodel?’ Mulligan asked

Carey Mulligan has condemned a suggestion that she “wasn’t hot enough” to play her latest film role.

In Promising Young Woman, for which she is receiving Oscar buzz, Mulligan portrays Cassie, a survivor of trauma who uses her sexuality in a series of revenge schemes.

While Mulligan’s performance has drawn raves from critics, she has admitted to being bothered by one review in particular.

In its review of the film, industry magazine Variety argued that Margot Robbie, who produced the film, would have been more believable in the role. “Whereas with [Mulligan], Cassie wears her pickup-bait gear like bad drag; even her long blond hair feels like a put-on,” a critic wrote.

“I took issue with it,” Mulligan told The New York Times. “It felt like it was basically saying that I wasn’t hot enough to pull off this kind of ruse.”

She continued: “It wasn’t some sort of ego-wounding thing — like, I fully can see that Margot Robbie is a goddess … It drove me so crazy. I was like, ‘Really? For this film, you’re going to write something that is so transparent? Now? In 2020?’

“I just couldn’t believe it. We don’t allow women to look normal anymore, or like a real person. Why does every woman who’s ever onscreen have to look like a supermodel?”

Variety did not immediately respond when The Independent reached out for comment, but has since updated its original Promising Young Woman review with a disclaimer reading: “Variety sincerely apologises to Carey Mulligan and regrets the insensitive language and insinuation in our review of Promising Young Woman that minimised her daring performance.”

Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman (Focus)

Promising Young Woman, which also stars Bo Burnham, Alison Brie and Laverne Cox, is the directorial debut of actor and filmmaker Emerald Fennell, who is best known for playing Camilla Parker-Bowles on The Crown.

The film will be released in the UK on 12 February.