
Milla Jovovich was recently asked about her notoriously tense relationship with Michelle Rodriguez during Resident Evil, and casually dropped the news that she was so upset about Rodriguez's expanded role that she almost quit. Why? Because Michelle was "very hot" and people thought she deserved an Oscar.
"I almost quit the movie. I was shooting something else, and [director] Paul [W.S. Anderson] had hired Michelle Rodriguez to play Rain, and she had just come off Girlfight and there was Oscar buzz," Jovovich said. "She was very hot at that moment, and my hotness had sort of been already four years old by that point. So Paul rewrote the script for her."
Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Surely we live in a world where there can be two "very hot" women in one movie...right? And surely the Oscar buzz surrounding Rodriguez—a woman of color—should have been something fellow actress Jovovich would be excited about, right? RIGHT?!
Apparently not, because as soon as Jovovich saw the script changes, she was "livid" and called a meeting with Anderson. "Paul ended up coming over that evening and we literally sat for three hours and went through the script, page by page," she said. "He was like, 'What do you mean? This didn't change that much?' So I was like, 'Okay, why don't we start with page one?' I pointed out every time I felt like my great scenes were taken away."
Look, in the interest of being fair, it's probably pretty hard to have your scenes given away to another actor. But maybe, just *maybe*, this is one of those moments where you put aside your own insecurities about "hotness" and applaud the fact that a talented woman of color is about to slay in a blockbuster movie. Maybe you suck it up, join forces, and remember that there's room for more than one leading woman in Hollywood.
RELATED STORY
The 12 Biggest Pop Star Feuds of All Time
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
-
The Perfumer Behind Last Year's Most Talked-About Fragrance Just Released Another Perfect Scent
Aqua Media Cologne forte embodies a feeling of balance and harmony.
By Deena Campbell
-
'Yellowface' Is Our June Book Club Pick
Read an excerpt from R.F. Kuang's latest novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
I Scoured the Summer Runways—Here Are the Six Shoe Trends Actually Worth Buying
Hit the ground running this season.
By Emma Childs
-
Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The 'Modern Family' stars reunited for the 'Pitch Perfect' spinoff series.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
The 78 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes of All Time
Honestly, we're impressed.
By Charlotte Chilton
-
Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman
From childhood snapshots to portraits as a young princess, beautiful and rare photos of the late Queen Elizabeth as a young woman.
By Mehera Bonner
-
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla's Relationship: A Timeline
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles has ascended to the throne as king.
By The Editors
-
Who Is Next in Line for the British Throne, Explained
And yes—Harry and Archie are still in the line of succession.
By Andrea Park
-
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiancé Riley Roberts?
AOC's husband-to-be is an "easygoing redhead" who lives with her in D.C.
By Katherine J. Igoe
-
68 Times the Kardashians Posed Fully Nude and Owned It
And we mean fully nude—as in, not a shred of clothing.
By Bianca Rodriguez
-
Who Is Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles's Fiancé and NFL Player?
"The easiest yes!" Simone wrote about the couple's engagement.
By The Editors