Rachel Brosnahan is a CIA agent in the 1960s in 'Ironbark', says she loves to play 'strong-willed women'

MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) caught up with Rachel Brosnahan at the Sundance Festival, where she spoke about her upcoming film 'Ironbark'
Rachel Brosnahan (Getty Images)
Rachel Brosnahan (Getty Images)

Rachel Brosnahan has enthralled viewers with her astounding performance in the comedy series 'The Marvelous Mrs Maisel', for which she won two Emmy Awards as well as two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress.

She is now gearing up for the release of her political thriller, 'Ironbark', which also stars Benedict Cumberbatch. In the film, she will play the role of Emily Donovan.

MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) caught up with Brosnahan at the Sundance Festival and asked how she manages to maintain her health and not get exhausted going to so many red carpets over the last few weeks.

She answered, "I am a little bit sleepy, I will get a good night sleep tonight. It's really exciting how often do you get the opportunity to talk about projects you love with the people you love who helped make them? That part never gets old."

On being a beacon for women during a period of time when they did not have much of a voice and how her current role plays into that, Brosnahan said, "I do have an affinity for hungry, ambitious and strong-willed women and Emily is no different."

"She is one of the only female CIA members in the 1960s, and there were certainly not very many.  She's eager to prove herself in a male-dominated industry. It's been really fun to get to bring her to life and it's also a reminder of how far we've come, but also a reminder of how far we still need to come."

On portraying a character that was different from the realm of characters she has played, Brosnahan said, "They're all so different. It's interesting that this film and 'The Marvelous Mrs Maisel'  take place at almost the exact same time, but they're in completely different parts of the world."

"We were shooting in London, we shot in Prague, the film takes place partially in Russia. While Maisel is about the comedy scene, New York City and the bold and vibrant life there in the 1960s, this is really different, the stakes are totally different. I learned something completely new about the very same time period."

Speaking about the story, she said, "I actually didn't know when I first read the script that it was based on a true story. The story is so mind-boggling. I can't believe that it wasn't something we learned about in school."

"I thought it must be made-up and obviously parts of it were dramatized. The basis for the story is true, this British businessman partnered with Oleg Penkovsky, MI-6 and the CIA and they saved the world," she added.

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