When you think of theFast & Furiousfranchise, what comes to mind?
The wild action, the sleek cars, and the macho men taking the lead?
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ:Lettys a strong woman.
Credit: Everett Collection
I knew girls like Letty growing up.
I was hoping that at some point wed evolve out of that vibe.
So, thats why its perpetuated and so successful around the world.
Universal Pictures
It wasnt tourists that came to visit that I was taking photos with.
Not in America;America has 51 percent female population, but thats because of violence.
Its because of violence against women and its because of a lack of evolution in men in society.
Vin Diesel and Helen Mirren in ‘The Fate of the Furious’.Universal Pictures
I do feel that heavy weight.
Im a complete, sheer, utter feminist.
It does weigh heavy on my head especially in the male-dominated environment that I work in.
Scott Garfield/Universal Pictures
JORDANA BREWSTER:In thefourth,fifth, andsixth[films], Mia was always this lighthouse.
Shes always there when they get back from their missions.
Shes the very sane, level-headed one.
Universal Pictures
It was very cool to bring [motherhood] to the series once I was a mom myself.
I actually played a mom before becoming a mom and I kind of got it, but not really.
Then, the minute I had Julian I really understood.
Sidney Baldwin/Universal Pictures
Now, shes a mom of two because inFurious 7Mia told Brian shes pregnant with a little girl.
Shes like, This is crazy and is always freaking out.
I like that Im the person who gets to do that.
Jaimie Trueblood/Universal Pictures
I think the movie in itself was an outsider.
HELEN MIRREN:Im a little [hazy on] the subject of women inFast and the Furious.
I just loved being in a movie where cars are driven because I love driving cars in movies.
In terms of the character, I met Jason [Statham].
He was in a film that my husband directed.
I really loved him as a person, as an actor.
His work ethic is spectacular and hes a great guy.
I loved that I would be playing a scene with him.
Shes a very tough, London woman whos strong, a little bit vulgar, and self-interested.
As this matriarch, how would you describe the role of parenthood inFate?
I thought that that was a nice thing to introduce into the storyline.
I think any mom in the world would sacrifice her life for the life of her son.
Its such a big love, and its so intense, all the scenes that she has with Dom.
Shes suffering and thinking about that helped me a lot with the scene because it breaks my heart.
Thats what she focused on just save our son.
Its sad, but moving to see your character meet her end.
It makes me cry just thinking about it.
I think the moment they shoot her, she realizes that theyre killing her instead of the kid.
What do you recall about that process?
How have you helped shape Letty since to turn her into the character that youre proud of today?
Thats the only leverage I ever use with anything.
Its like, look, this doesnt agree with my ethics, morals.
But changing Letty, it was tough.
I really didnt think about it until I was on set.
I was like, Wait a minute.
Theyre really going to make me do this.
I thought that theyd figure out by now that this doesnt seem logical.
First off, a girl in the ghetto is going to stick with the toughest guy on the block.
She would not jeopardize her survival in an urban environment in the name of a good time.
Imagine if Dominic Toretto found out that blondie boy was messing around with his girl.
I was very grateful for that, but there are fights every now and then.
Like, Whyis she so hard to work with?
Im not hard to work with.
I just demand a certain level of respect for the individual character.
Its not like Im sitting here, Oh, I want to drive a car through that!
So, it evolved from there, from being logical and I come from Jersey City.
Its not like I didnt have truth to what I was saying.
Whats your reaction to that?
RODRIGUEZ:Aww, I think its sweet.
I think its cool.
We worked really, really hard.
Sometimes we look back; I was just hanging out with the boys, Tyrese and Vin.
Its disruptive in a global kind of way and its just literally a voice.
Why does it always have to be lead by the Caucasian superhero?
How would you describe the evolution of the female characters throughout the series?
Michelle was like, Absolutely not, this is how shes going to be.
She fleshed her out and made sure she was strong.
I was like, Oh, Jesus.
What am I in for?
So, it was kind of the opposite with me.
I was being pushed toward the grittiness and the earthiness, which was great.
I loved it, but I also really liked playing the counterbalance to all the crazy testosterone.
Does it get exhausting?
It was just so the norm for me.
PATAKY:I think that its been great and it goes with the times that were living right now.
Women are more and more important in movies, in Hollywood.
I think the franchise really [shows] how powerful and strong these women are.
[Elenas] a police officer.
Even the new [villain] in the movie is a woman.
How powerful is that?
It feels like they respect the women in the franchise a lot.
The character of Michelle right now is amazing.
Shes a really strong woman.
Shes [at] the side of her man and she shows her love.
At the same time, shes a little bit badass.
The women of this franchise, theyre all so badass, which is great, and you believe it.
Its not like look, the girlfriend can be tough.
No, they are.
EMMANUEL:I think the women have had their own agency more and more and more with each movie.
And I think with each movie, thats becoming more and more and more.
Shes more than capable doing it herself.
Obviously they do because of the loyalty that they all share.
The introduction of Cipher, for example, as the first lead, female antagonist is a big step.
Cipher, as much as shes a complete psychopath, shes also a genius.
The fact that its a woman is even cooler.
Its really fun, then, when those two characters go head to head at the end.
How do you feel the films have represented women?
This is so dynamic and different.
Maybe thats just where we were in the 90s.
The franchise has been happening for [more than] 15 years.
They were sexy, but they werent like sexy props.
I remember Michelle Rodriguez being so badass and so capable and Im sure that continued.
BREWSTER:Milla Jovovichs [Resident Evil] franchise does so well, and now super well worldwide especially.
It seems like they either do extremely well or not at all.
My 3-and-a-half year old is obsessed with Wonder Woman.
He cant wait for that movie.
Im like, Mommy knows Gal.
MIRREN:I think theyre pretty good actually, I have to say.
Its changed so, so much.
It doesnt mean it cant continue changing.
Sometimes you think, Oh my God, theyre slipping back again, but I think its pretty good.
It just should continue in the trajectory that its going in.
KELLEY:I think were coming along.
Weve come a long way.
Theres still a lot of work to do.
I couldnt have envisioned anAtomic Blonde10 years ago, so, were getting there.
These movies are a reflection of ourselves and where were at.
It felt likeFast and the Furiouswas groundbreaking for women when it came out because thats where we were at.
Its going to continue to reflect where were at.
BREWSTER:Because, why not?
Weve been watching male-driven action movies forever, so why shouldnt we watch female-driven action movies?
Theres so many amazing Greek myths with females of before.
Women are more multifaceted and more complicated and I think its more interesting.
Thats why TV is so rich right now, frankly.
Thats whyBig Little Liesdid so well.
There were all these female protagonists that were so complicated and horrible, yet good.
PATAKY:Its real life.
Theres so many women who have been amazing in history, such strong women.
Its beautiful to put it in movies so people can watch.
The culture informs where our girls are going to go in the next generation.
I just finished the reboot ofDynastyfor The CW and its really cool.
Its really centered on the female relationships.
Why am I fighting her?
I understand the conflict is central to the show, but do I have to lay hands on her?
Are we really promoting this in this day and age?
Then we did the fight scene and it was so much fun.
Its so fun and I get why boys love doing fight scenes.
As feminists, were fighting for equality.
I realized this whole other slant on it.
Both of us were so enjoying pounding each other.
I think women in action are shattering those constraints.
If thats what you want to do, do it!
How can they be more inclusive of women?
Its very rare that they even look at each other.
I think thats pathetic and its lack of creativity.
Guys dont know what girls talk about.
I would have a guy lay that out, but with intentions of leaving slots for female camaraderie.
Then, Id have a girl come in and write out that dialogue because the guys suck at it.
Ive been rewriting my lines forever.
Theres really nobody training for the women, so they dont really have examples.
Guys are like Ah, she cant do that.
How the f do you know?
Have you studied female history?
Do you know whos a scientist?
Whos not a scientist?
Do you know that women like taking apart motors sometime?
My assistant used to do it with her dad.
I feel theres a dire need for that.
Thats what Im imploring with the studio because these franchise films go to the hardest markets on women.
I do not feel comfortable not sending an opposing message to that kind of thing.
I think people really underestimate how powerful Hollywood feature films are to inspire the mind.
This is my life.
BREWSTER:I love Michelle for that.
I agree with that.
Id love to see that because it is a shame that weve never seen that on screen.
You toldFox Newsthat the door might not be closed on you coming back.
BREWSTER:Its obviously difficult to reintroduce me, but Id love to be able to come back.
That would be really cool.
What else would you like to see more of in terms of women in these movies?
BREWSTER:I think the franchise has continued evolving and growing so far, so good.
Equal screen time is always good.
Thats something to aim for, but not as far as different storylines.
Its something that Ive been battling with my whole life.
That is what I would ask of feature films in general, let aloneFast and the Furious.
I mean, its happened enormously.
Things have changed so dramatically and drastically in the last 10 years and that change has continued to come.
Its like a dam has broken.
TheFastmovies have yet to have a female director.
Do you think a female director could bring a bit of what youre talking about?
MIRREN:A female director doesnt necessarily change things like that.
What changes things is the audience, is the audience responding to something and going with it.
We all know that the movie industry is a financial industry above all.
We make what sells.
Yes, of course, a woman director quite possibly could bring her own sensibility to it.
Its a sort of pronged thing.
Its behind the camera and in the audience.
BREWSTER:That would be really interesting.
I worked with Angela Robinson ages ago onD.E.B.S.I dont know why she popped in my head.
I think it would be fun to have a female director.
That would shake it up for sure.
A female writer would be really cool to bring a different perspective, different flavor to it.
Where would you like to see the series go next as far as female representation?
Is there an area where you think theres room for improvement?
I think giving the women more of a platform to be independent will always be an improvement.
That evolution and how that then changes, and how we would operate within that dynamic of that group.
How can Hollywood as a whole do better?
BREWSTER:I think its amazing that more and more actresses are being brave and speaking out.
I think its great every once and awhile to say no.
If somethings not fair, you gotta say no.
They have their moments to shine, essentially, and to take initiative.
I think thats what men have to realize, and I think they are.
The beginning was like no, I dont believe that, but you have to.
I love watching it.
