Miller’s Girl, the erotic thriller written and directed by Jade Halley Bartlett starring Jenna Ortega, 21, and Martin Freeman, 52 faced lots of criticism following its release because of the age gap and particularly how the teacher-student relationship was shown. Now, Freeman has broken his silence on the controversial age gap issue.
Martin Freeman Discusses Miller’s Girl Age Gap Controversy
Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega in Miller’s Girl (2024). Image Credit: Lionsgate
In the movie, Jenna Ortega plays the character of Cairo Sweet, a young 18-year-old student and a talented writer who caught the attention of her teacher, Jonathan Miller, much older than her, and the romantic erotic thriller revolves around their relationship.
Martin Freeman, star of Miller’s Girl, has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the 31-year age gap between him and his co-star Jenna Ortega.
In a recent interview with London’s The Times, Freeman addressed the age difference, highlighting the film’s complexity. He described Miller’s Girl as a “grown-up and nuanced” story that doesn’t endorse the teacher-student relationship.
“It’s a shame,” Freeman commented on the negative reception surrounding the age gap. He expressed concern that discussions about difficult topics could be dismissed simply because of the subject matter. Referencing the acclaimed Holocaust film Schindler’s List, Freeman questioned, “Are we gonna have a go at Liam Neeson for being in a film about the Holocaust?”
Here is the official synopsis for Miller’s Girl:
“A talented young writer (Jenna Ortega) embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher (Martin Freeman) assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly complex web. As lines blur and their lives intertwine, professor and protégé must confront their darkest selves while straining to preserve their individual sense of purpose and the things they hold most dear.”
The movie recently made its digital debut on Netflix.
Jenna Ortega was “comfortable” with the Intimate Scenes and Age Gap In Miller’s Girl
Earlier this year, the film’s intimacy coordinator, Kristina Arjona, revealed that Ortega was actively involved in the planning of these scenes.
She shared that the young actress had clear boundaries and communicated them effectively throughout the process. “There was many, many people throughout this process, engaging with [Ortega] to make sure that it was consistent with what she was comfortable with, and she was very determined and very sure of what she wanted to do,” Kristina Arjona told the Daily Mail in February.
“I’m hyper aware of both of my talent and making sure that we’re consistently checking in and that at no point are any of their boundaries being surpassed.” (Via Deadline)
“And, again, making sure — especially with someone who’s significantly younger — that they are giving continuous consent,” she added.
Arjona told the Mail she adapts to “the comfort level” of her actors, especially “where there is a large age gap.”
“Part of my job too is supporting her decisions,” she said of Ortega.
Seems like, only the audiences felt the discomfort here seeing them doing those scenes. The actors and the makers were unbothered by the outside noise.
Miller’s Girl is available to watch on Netflix.
