Martin Freeman Addresses Backlash Over 31-Year Age Gap With Jenna Ortega in Recent Romantic Thriller

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Martin Freeman has addressed the backlash over his 31-year age gap with his ‘Miller’s Girl’ co-star Jenna Ortega.

Ortega, 21, and Freeman, 52, star in director Jade Bartlett’s 2024 erotic thriller about a university student, Cairo (Ortega), who falls into a complicated and inappropriate love affair with her English professor, Jonathan Miller (Freeman), after a ‘writing assignment yields complex results.’

Following the film’s domestic release in February, several viewers expressed discomfort with one particular scene in the movie, which saw characters Jonathan and Cairo engage in a sexual act.

Watch the trailer for ‘Miller’s Girl’ below.

Fan criticism shortly began online and quickly grew into serious outcry. On-set intimacy coordinator of the film, Kristina Arjona, assured viewers that Jenna Ortega was “comfortable” and “very sure” of her sex scenes: “There was many, many people throughout this process, engaging with Ortega to make sure that it was consistent with what she was comfortable with, and she was very determined and very sure of what she wanted to do.” — “Part of my job, too, is supporting her decisions. I adapt to whatever is the comfort level of my actors, especially on a production like this where there is a large age gap between the actors.”

Arjona also said that she had multiple open conversations about the use of modesty garments and barriers to ensure there was “appropriate distance” between the actors while filming intimate scenes. “Also [the actors] have the option on the day to change their mind if they don’t want to do any of the elements that we’ve discussed.”

Responding to the strong online reactions in a new interview with The Times, actor Martin Freeman insisted the movie is “grown-up and nuanced. It’s not saying, ‘Isn’t this great?’”

Freeman previously spoke with Collider about the film’s content, saying: “There are things in it which are not cut and dry, and not black and white.” — “Certainly there are conversations around it, at the moment and over the last several years, particularly. It comes into a world where those conversations are being had, slightly from left field, and says, ‘Yes, what about this?’ It’s interesting.”

“Miller’s Girl” specifics: A creative writing assignment yields complex results between a teacher and his talented student.

CREW: Director: Jade Halley Bartlett | Screenplay: Jade Halley Bartlett | Cinematography: Daniel Brothers | Editor: Vanara Taing | Music: Elyssa Samsel.

STARRING: Jenna Ortega, Martin Freeman, Dagmara Domińczyk.

PRODUCTION: Good Universe, Point Grey Pictures, Lionsgate Films.

2024 - Thriller - 1h 34m