A movie about Lilly Ledbetter, the supervisor whose struggles with employer Goodyear Tire & Rubber over inequality in pay due to her gender led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, is due to be released in 2015, but the script has already won recognition.
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The movie script by Adam Prince and Rachel Feldman, who will also direct with the approval of Lilly Ledbetter, was named to the “Athena Firm Festival List of Best Unproduced Screenplays Featuring Female Protagonists,” was created to highlight the underrepresentation of women protagonists in movies and to encourage strong leading roles for women in movies that deserve to be made, according to Time.
Media, including the AAUW Outlook, are reporting that the leading role has not yet been cast, but several A-list actresses are vying for the “iconic” part, especially given the Oscar-winning success of Sally Field in Norma Rae and Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich.
The HRSBT staff immediately began casting the part; Helen Mirren instantly came to mind given the resemblance—and her incredible acting chops!
When news of the movie first broke, Alabama.com polled her home state on who should play the role. Most mentioned included Meryl Streep, who just played Margaret Thatcher, and Jessica Lange (the resemblance, again). Also mentioned were Sissy Spacek, Emma Thompson, fellow Southerner Sela Ward, and even Frances McDormand (you betcha).
Any other ideas? E-mail us at HRSBTstories@blr.com.
I’m surprised this got the greenlight–a political topic with a female lead? Doesn’t seem up Hollywood’s alley these days. I’d love to know the budget.