Unlikeable characters fuck with the audience. They’re constantly asking us: Do you like me? Do you fear me? Do you want to be me? Do you want to get rid of me? These roles, when embodied by women, play on the star persona and screen charisma of the actress more than with male performers. It’s not surprising that many actresses refuse to play unlikeable, or unredeemable, characters—even if successful, it might be damaging to their careers. There is an industry-wide awareness of how strangely difficult it is for audiences to separate the woman from the character. Other actresses, of course, seek
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