Steven McQueen Explains Casting Michelle Rodriguez In 'Widows' Despite People Warning She's "Difficult"

One of the worst punishments that can befall a Hollywood figure, whether it’s an actor, director, or any creative type, is being labeled “difficult.” Take a look at people like Katherine Heigl. Remember her? She was on a rocket ship on her way to superstardom, appearing in a hit TV series, “Grey’s Anatomy,” and appearing in hit films like “Knocked Up.” However, the stigma of being “difficult” followed her and years later, she still has to explain herself. Switching gears, slightly, during an interview with UPROXX, acclaimed filmmaker Steve McQueen was interviewed about his upcoming film “Widows.” And in it, he explains why he hates that label and why it didn’t stop him from approaching one actress in particular.

Michelle Rodriguez is an actress with a very interesting career, that seems to have thrived in spite of her reputation. After bursting onto the scene in Karyn Kusama’s “Girlfight,” she quickly nabbed the role of a lifetime as Letty in “The Fast and the Furious.” However, over the course of the next decade, the label of “difficult” followed her, limiting her roles outside of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, despite her clear acting chops. So, when McQueen told people he wanted her for a role in “Widows,” he was met with hesitance.

“People told me not to work with her,” said McQueen.

He explained further, “Because she’s ‘difficult.’ She’s this and that. ‘Don’t work with her. No, no don’t work with her.’ But people say that about me. If you’re a white director, they call you a perfectionist. Me, they call difficult. So I didn’t pay any mind to what people say about Michelle, because I had to find out for myself. I offered her the role and she said no.”

You may wonder why Rodriguez would turn down a major role in a huge film starring Viola Davis, directed by the “12 Years a Slave” filmmaker.

“She said that she didn’t want to be the character. The character was subservient to men. She didn’t want a situation where she was beholden to a man. She said no and I did a lot of auditions of other actresses, but for me it wasn’t working,” McQueen continued.

So, despite Rodriguez’s initial reluctance and her “difficult” stigma, the filmmaker persisted and landed an in-person meeting with the actress. There, he began to realize why people were hesitant about working with the actress, and ultimately, why he wanted her to begin with.

“When I met her, I thought, ‘Oh, I understand what they mean by difficult.’ She’s always asking questions to herself, difficult questions. And trying to answer them. Bring that here! I want that! I have the same reputation so it’s nonsense. Again, when people say things about people, one has to find out themselves. That’s it. That’s what it is,” he said.

Ultimately, we know it worked out, as Rodriguez is one of the stars of the film, which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is looked at by many as a potential awards contender. So, apparently, the lesson learned is to not worry about the “difficult” stigma and judge for yourself. It seemed to work pretty well for McQueen.

Check out all our coverage from the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival here.