Actress Naomi Ackie discusses the challenges she's faced in Hollywood as a woman of color, stating she was told she'd need to work harder for fewer opportunities, followed by her earning a coveted award at the ELLE Style Awards.
In the world of film, Zoe Kravitz is making waves with her upcoming psychological thriller, "Pussy Island". The movie, originally titled thus, stars Channing Tatum as tech billionaire Slater King, while Zoe Kravitz's own character remains shrouded in mystery.
The story unfolds on a private island, where a dream vacation turns into a nightmare for a character named Frida. As she uncovers the island's sinister secrets, Frida must find a way to escape. This intriguing plot was inspired by discussions about power dynamics in society and culture, and was penned down by Kravitz in October 2017, following the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Kravitz reveals that the inspiration for "Pussy Island" came from a place of frustration with society and culture power dynamics in the summer of 2017. She aims to give no power to Harvey Weinstein by not mentioning his name.
Meanwhile, Naomi Ackie, who is featured on the cover of W Magazine's Fall Fashion Issue and ELLE UK's October issue, plays the main character in "Pussy Island". Ackie's journey in the film industry has been marked by challenges, as her parents told her she would have to work twice as hard and get half as much due to being a woman of color.
In an interview, Ackie discusses these challenges and the complications of being a woman of color in the industry. She also shares her experiences and the lessons she's learned from her friend and fellow actor, Zoe Kravitz, who cast her as the main character in the black comedy psychological thriller film "fileΜ".
Ackie was helped by Eva Victor, who acted as both mentor and producer in the film "Sorry, Baby", which was publicly recognized when the film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
In "Pussy Island", Frida meets Slater King at his fundraising gala. The awards ceremony for the film takes place on September 9. With its thought-provoking plot and star-studded cast, "Pussy Island" promises to be a film that delves deep into the power dynamics of society and culture.
Lastly, Kravitz and Ackie discuss having fun with fashion in the interview, with Ackie being the recipient of this year's Performer Of The Year at the 2025 ELLE Style Awards. Their collaboration in "Pussy Island" is a testament to the rare friendships that women can create and the powerful stories they can tell in the film industry.
