The 2019 movie Julia Stiles would “do anything” to be a part of: “I don’t care if I have to sweep the floors”
Julia Stiles pursued a role in *Hustlers* because she wanted to work with director Lorene Scafaria, even though her agents warned that the part was not especially showy. The 2019 crime satire became a box-office success and drew awards attention, but Jennifer Lopez’s high-profile campaign overshadowed the film’s other female performers.
Stiles played Elizabeth, a journalist based on Jessica Pressler, whose reporting inspired the story. Her interviews with Destiny, played by Constance Wu, frame the film’s flashbacks, while Stiles brings nuance to a character shaped by sympathy and class privilege. The article links Stiles’s interest in the project to a period when major screen roles had dried up after *10 Things I Hate About You* and the *Bourne* films.
- Stiles wanted to work with director Lorene Scafaria.
- Her journalist character frames the film’s flashbacks.
- Lopez’s awards campaign drew attention from the ensemble.
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Hustlers is a 2019 crime satire inspired by a magazine investigation into New York strippers who stole money from wealthy clients. The film centres on Destiny, played by Constance Wu, and Ramona, played by Jennifer Lopez, as they navigate work, money and friendship.
Julia Stiles plays Elizabeth, a journalist based on the real reporter Jessica Pressler. Elizabeth’s interviews with Destiny frame the story, which moves between the interviews and earlier events. The film drew attention for its cast and performances, while also examining differences in wealth and social position.