Ana de Armas urges Hollywood to create more female action heroes

In recent statements, Ana de Armas, who starred as a CIA agent in the James Bond film 'No Time to Die,' expressed her desire for the film industry to increase the production of movies with female leads in action roles. Speaking at CinemaCon while promoting her upcoming movie 'Ballerina,' a spin-off from the John Wick series, she emphasized the importance of creating original characters instead of gender-swapping existing male roles. De Armas noted that female action stars should have the opportunity to showcase their own unique strengths without having to emulate male characters. The Cuban-born actress highlighted her role as a female assassin in 'Ballerina,' aiming to present a refreshing narrative focused on women in action without relying on the established male-led franchises. She believes that the current trend of gender-swapping iconic roles, such as 007, detracts from the potential for female characters to carve their own space in the action genre. De Armas’s viewpoint resonates with broader sentiments in Hollywood, where many actors and actresses have expressed growing frustrations about the portrayal of women in traditionally male-dominated roles. This conversation has gained traction among various actresses in the industry, including notable figures like Helen Mirren, who have criticized the idea of a woman taking on the role of James Bond. Furthermore, Emma Thompson has spoken about the necessity of incorporating feminine qualities into character development, advocating that women should not simply mimic male behavior but instead embrace their own unique traits. The emphasis on more thoughtfully created female characters is seen as a vital step in evolving action storytelling. The shift in creative control of the James Bond franchise to Amazon MGM has opened up discussions about the future direction of the series. De Armas remarked that changes in creative leadership may lead to a more diverse and inclusive development of characters in the Bond universe. Many feel this could either lead to the birth of original female-led stories or a reliance on existing brands through gender-swapping, which De Armas hopes to avoid. Through these statements, she has become a voice for advocating authentic representation and storytelling, aligning with a growing chorus of calls from the industry for an evolution in action films that fully embraces female narratives.