Emilia Clarke has suggested her new festive film Last Christmas is “anti-Brexit”.
The Game Of Thrones star appears opposite Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding in the new Christmas movie, which features the music of George Michael and is based on Wham!’s song of the same name.
But in addition to its heavy festive atmosphere, the actress has also claimed the film “definitely” holds a strong anti-Brexit message, because of her character’s back story.
“You get to see on a cinema screen someone’s point of view as someone who was not born in this country, but who is here and who is living a life and just trying to get through,” Emilia told Radio 4’s Front Row.
“It really is a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, and acceptance on a broad scale – this to the backdrop of Brexit, and that’s a lot to do with acceptance.”
In Last Christmas, Emilia plays Kate, whose family fled the former Yugoslavia and now live in London.
The film was penned by Emma Thompson, who has previously been critical of Brexit on several occasions, with Emilia noting: “Emma Thompson and Greg Wise [her husband] are politically active, and they would never write a script that wasn’t in line with the way they thought, so it’s there.”
As well as writing Last Christmas, Emma also stars in it, while Paul Feig has taken on directing duties, having previously helmed Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor.
The first reviews of the film were published earlier this week, with critics pulling absolutely no punches and branding it “brutally unfunny” and “a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift that’s filled with rotten turkey leftovers”.
Last Christmas debuts in UK cinemas on 15 November.