In the interview with Vogue Australia On June 28, Lily-Rose Depp spoke out in defense The Idol and violent scenes in the face of fierce criticism from the audience and experts.
Playing the role of Jocelyn, a pop star who falls in love with deviant cult leader Tedros (The Weeknd), Johnny Depp’s daughter causes aversion to viewers because she spends most of the film’s time in the nude, semi-nude or perform sexual acts. The drama she starred in was also considered a “toxic male sexual fantasy” because it was filled with erotic scenes of torture, self-harm, drug abuse, masturbation…
However, Lily-Rose insists the 18+ scenes are “intentional and important” for the film’s flow. She claims to be starring in the show is great fun.
“I was never interested in creating something ethical. It’s okay if this program isn’t for everyone. I think the greatest art is polarization. Honestly, I’ve never felt more respected and safe than on set. So the nudity and the adventurous nature of the role really had a purpose for me. That’s important and makes me excited to be in the role. I’m not afraid of it. I think we live in that highly sexualized world. It’s an interesting thing to discover,” emphasized the actress born in 1999.
Lily-Rose revealed how her portrayal of unstable pop star Jocelyn changed her and she struggled when the movie ended.
“I never said goodbye to Jocelyn. Honestly it was a beautiful time in my life… I never forgot her. She lives forever in my heart. I love this character so much. I feel like she changed me, also taught me a lot,” the beauty explained.
During the conversation, Lily-Rose mentioned being born and raised as the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis.
She remembers that when she was in school, people used to ask her funny and preconceived questions about her and her family before they knew her better.
“Popularity was never something I cared about. I really can’t understand why anyone would care about that. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be doing what I love most for a living. This work makes me feel most fulfilled, full of inspiration and I can put all my emotions into something beautiful, into something creative, something with a purpose. I feel really lucky to be able to do that, whatever the outcome, even if it’s negative, to me it’s just a small price to pay to be able to do what I love,” she said.
Earlier, The Weeknd also made similar comments about the role of Tedros. He said on GQ The image of the cult leader character built in the film is a wretch and despicable on purpose.
Above Variety he emphasized the public backlash to The Idol is “desirable” and “exactly what the creative team wants to do”.
Before The Idol premiered in early June, director Sam Levinson denied that the film “glorifies rape” by Rolling Stone .
“We know we are running a provocative program. We are not lost. I know who I am,” the Emmy Award winner said in an interview at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
According to Vogue Australia, Page Six, Daily Mail