Felicity Jones Shines in Marie Claire UK Cover, Talks Gender Imbalance and Upcoming Role in The Brutalist

Felicity Jones captivated readers in her latest Marie Claire UK cover shoot for December 2024, where she donned a striking red leather dress and shared her thoughts on challenging societal expectations and addressing gender imbalance in the film industry.

The 41-year-old actress posed in a stunning scoop-neck corset dress and later transitioned into a daring black cut-out dress with a lace bra top for a rooftop photo shoot.

In the accompanying interview, Felicity discussed founding her own production company and said: “There are always expectations about how one should be, and it’s about pushing back on those.”

Reflecting on her early career following her breakout role in 2011's Like Crazy, she noted the “profound gender imbalance,” likening it to “walking onto a building site.” She recalled how scripts often focused on an actress’s appearance rather than character, but added: “I have noticed people are more conscious of that now.”

Felicity highlighted the need for greater financial support for female directors, emphasizing the “extraordinary shift” occurring in the industry.

Upcoming Role in The Brutalist

Jones will next star in The Brutalist, an epic historical drama directed by Brady Corbet and set for release in January. The film tells the story of Holocaust survivor and Hungarian architect László Tóth (played by Adrien Brody) as he strives to rebuild his life and career in America. Felicity portrays Erzsébet Tóth, László’s wife.

The narrative spans decades, chronicling Tóth’s journey from poverty to securing a pivotal contract with industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce). The film also features Joe Alwyn and Alessandro Nivola in supporting roles.

For Brody, the project resonated personally due to his mother’s experiences as a Hungarian immigrant fleeing Soviet oppression. “Even though it's fiction, it feels very real and very real to me,” he said.

Director Brady Corbet described The Brutalist as a “physical manifestation of the trauma of the 20th century” and a tribute to artists whose visions were never fully realized. Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, Corbet added: “This film does everything that we are told we are not allowed to do.”

Felicity Jones’s bold interview and the ambitious scope of The Brutalist affirm her commitment to reshaping narratives on and off-screen.