Today we are joined by actual genius and Oscar Winner, Emerald Fennell. 

After an acting career that saw her star in one of my faves, Call The Midwife, play Camilla in The Crown, and feature in the Barbie movie as Midge, Emerald turned her talents to writing and directing. Her first movie Promising Young Woman about a survivor of sexual assault, played by Carey Mulligan, who aims to take toxic men down one by one, earned her an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and Emerald also became only the sixth woman to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars too. What. A. Trailblazer.

Now Emerald is back with her second movie, Saltburn which follows Oliver, played by Barry Keoghan who skips off to Oxford University, becomes obsessed with the jock on the block, Felix played by Jacob Elordi (who can blame him). When Oliver secures an invite to summer on Felix’s estate what follows is a lot of racy comings and goings, some iconic camp one liners from Oliver’s mother, Elsbeth played by Rosamund Pike and her bff, Pamela played by Carey Mulligan and some very dark moments which will have your jaw on the floor. 

On this episode Emerald and I talk all about Saltburn, and cover a lot of ground including the Cheeky Girls, how to master a camp one liner, the awkward things we do when we become obsessed with a romantic partner, and the desperate need many of us have to fit in. Just like her movies, this chat has RANGE. 

I also really love what Emerald says about building a safe working environment on set as a female leader, after decades of Hollywood being known for unkindness and bullying. I think we need more leaders like Emerald, don’t you think? 

If you love Emerald as much as I do, get in touch with me across social media @joshsmithhosts and make sure you come back next week for another inspiring episode of Reign. Love, Josh x

P.S. As someone who has experienced hate and cyberbullying online, I know how it can affect you offline, too. So I am beyond proud to be bringing you four special podcast episodes talking about our digital wellbeing in partnership with Urban Decay to mark their ongoing partnership with The Cybersmile Foundation. 

Their joint ‘Online Bullying Hurts IRL’ campaign hopes to educate people about how cyberbullying can affect mental health and offer support for those who need it. 

If you need help or know someone who does, head to https://bit.ly/CybersmilexUDEducationalModules to find Urban Decay and Cybersmile’s educational modules and their digital changemaker toolkit which are designed to allow us to recognise the signs of cyberbullying, responsibly intervene and positively change the conversation.

Together we can build a safer online world by learning and talking about how we can make a positive impact through considered social media use. If you are struggling right now, we have got you and make sure you talk to people you trust. You are never alone offline, even if you feel it online. Love Josh x

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