Matt Smith: I Don't Buy That There Are No Strong Roles For Women

Former ‘Doctor Who’ star Matt Smith has said that he’s not convinced that there’s a lack of good roles for female characters in the movies.

Currently starring in comedy-horror 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’, he cited the Oscars as proof of his point.

“I sort of don’t buy into this idea that there aren’t great female roles out there. I think they’re everywhere if you look in cinemas nowadays,” he said.

“I mean you only need to glance at the Oscars to see there are some wonderful performances by young women and young women being nominated, so I think they are out there.”

Though he admitted that there may have been problems in the past, things have turned a corner.

He also added that his latest movie, which mashes up Jane Austen’s literary classic with the cadaverous walking dead, is part of the solution.

“I think if it encourages the idea of young women being the sword-wielding action heroes then I think that’s really cool,” he said.

His co-star, former 'Downton Abbey’ actress Lily James who plays Elizabeth Bennet in the movie, added: “It was fun and empowering to be part of this girl group that were the ones sort of in control of the fighting and so strong.

“And those girls from Jane Austen – you know, Liz and Jane in particular – are so strong and such strong young women. It was really cool.”

The movie is out now across the UK.

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Image credits: PA