First Look: Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf
Friday, September 15, 2017 at 4:00PM by Murtada
click to embiggenHere’s our first look at Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf in Vita & Virginia, currently shooting in Ireland. The film will tell the story of the love affair between the noted author and socialite Vita Sackville-West (played by Gemma Arterton). Set in 1920s London, Vita & Virginia is the sophomore feature of director Chanya Button, following 2015 comedy drama Burn Burn Burn.
The clincher here though is the involvement of Dame Eileen Atkins, a Woolf scholar and the definitive authority on the famous writer...
Atkins co-wrote the screenplay with Button and the film is based on her play which was first performed in London in 1993 and off Broadway the following year. The play itself is based on the love letters between Sackville-West and Woolf. (Trivia note: Atkins is also in The Hours, which is itself obsessed with Virginia Woolf. She plays the woman who sells the flowers to Meryl Streep)
The film will also star Isabella Rossellini in an as yet not announced role. But the marquee part here is Woolf. As we know playing a really famous person can jumpstart a career or take it up a few notches, if the film works of course. And this particular role has been good to at least one other actress.
When I saw The Great Gatsby in 2013, I said that it’ll be remembered as the first film in a great actress’ long distinguished career. However despite fun turns in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Debicki hasn’t really revealed herself as a star yet. Maybe this will be the one.
Reader Comments (7)
I think that 2018 is hopefully a big year for her. She has Simon Baker's Breath which just premiered at Toronto, the Cloverfield Movie, Peter Rabbit, The Tale (Starring Laura Dern) and Steve McQueen's Widows alongside Vita and Virginia which should all come out next year. Maybe she pops up in Avengers too. She definitely deserves to be a star, she has the talent and presence too. What is a bit concerning is that when Virginia and Vita met/ had their love affair Woolf was in her 40s. Whilst Debicki does carry herself well and seems mature for her age I feel they really should have cast someone older.
this might be the first debicki film that has piqued my interest. she looks great as woolf.
Gemma Arterton has done wonders with her career,stage work,usa and uk films,this will be what's needed to remind those who left her at Bond what she can do.
So much that looks great here but I'm just so happy they let Debicki keep her nose.
Big fan of Gemma Arterton. She was a wonder in that Soairse Ronan vampire flick.
I'm excited for Debicki. She to me is a mix of Kidman and Blanchett. She has not been given the opportunities like they have yet but I choose to believe she will. It's always going to be difficult to cast her as a love interest as she towers over many of the leading men in film. I believe that as she ages the roles in which Kidman and Blanchett would've played in their youths will go to the likes of her.
She was beyond superior in Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Gatsby. I hope all the best for her and she's an actress open to film, tv and theatre so she should be employable once people see her in a role like this.
Feel that Elizabeth Debicki looks more like a Virginia Woolf and better suited to play her than Nicole Kidman was. Elizabeth’s Jordan Baker was brunette and grey eyed just like Virginia, similarly lithe ... and the Nose
LGBT is in vogue , the affair piques interest, excited for her in this movie.
She’s like a walking talking old New York, elite London portrait at the met as it is.