In an appearance on the CultureBlast Podcast, Sense and Sensibility star Emma Thompson called out Hollywood’s practice of pairing older male actors with women half their age in films. Her upcoming film, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, looks to flip the script by having Thompson star as a 55-year-old widow who hires a sex worker in his early 20s. 

“It’s completely acceptable for George Clooney – who is delightful – to have someone who is 40 years younger than him or 30 years younger than him,” Thompson said. “If I have someone playing opposite me in a romantic way, they have to exhume someone, because I’m 61 now. Do you see what I mean? It’s completely and utterly unbalanced.” 

Directed by Sophie Hyde and written by Katy Brand, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, follows Thompson’s character as she searches for a human connection; more specifically, a sexual connection with someone younger than herself.  “If Leo Grande, the film that we make, speaks to people and people aren’t averse to seeing someone who’s 61 largely naked with a very much younger person, it’s going to be very interesting.,” added Thompson. “We’ve got to keep being brave about that.” 

No release date has been set for the new film from Cornerstone, but it’s set to go into production in early 2021.