2018 has been a year for long overdue changes within the film industry. From the emergence of the #MeToo movement calling out sexual harassment within Hollywood, to on-screen diversity and representation making moves towards true inclusivity, the baby steps of change have finally begun.
Between Greta Gerwig's endlessly delightful films attracting Oscar noms, and female ensembles stealing the limelight in films such as Widows and Oceans 8, women in film are at long last being acknowledged for the talented writers, directors and actors they are.
However, there's still a way to go (women still account for just 11% of directors), something actress Amber Heard knows all too much about.
Catching up with ELLE while on the press run for her new film Aquaman - in which she plays the badass Atlantis princess Mera - Heard revealed her frustration with the limited female roles Hollywood is presenting audiences with:
'I get sick of the damsel in distress narrative as much as anyone, maybe, considering this is my line of work, perhaps more. The average viewer doesn't want to see the same formulaic approach that's outdated and two-dimensional and represents women in a very narrow light. It's boring and un-compelling for, not just a female audience, but for men as well.'
Having spoken out against her ex-husband Johnny Depp with allegations of abuse following their divorce, the 32-year-old has become a voice of change and empowerment for women within the film industry:
'The fact that so many women have said either TimesUp, or enough is enough, or #MeToo, there's a reason we're all saying the same thing. We don't want things to stay the same.
'Anybody who identifies as a woman understands a certain way of living through a filter, and that filter is important to recognise so we can change it, so we can challenge it, so we can test its integrity, and so we can apply, in future, lenses that are more fortified or of different colours for our daughters and our sisters moving forward.'
Hitting our screens with the most fleshed out female superhero since Black Panther's Nakia, the Texas-native portrayal of Mera is refreshingly different:
'She's empowered, she has her own drive, she's proactive, she has her own superpowers, she's her own character. That seems like a low bar to set... but let's face it, in the entertainment industry there's such a dearth of representation, I think it's worth saying.'
Hear that Hollywood? It's time for some much-needed change and Amber Heard might just be the one to do it.
'Aquaman' is in cinemas from December 12th
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George Driver was the former Senior Beauty Editor - Digital at ELLE UK.
