The Miss World-set movie Misbehaviour has just released a look at star Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Fast Color) as Miss Grenada, via Deadline. The contestant, whose real name was Jennifer Hosten, was the first black woman to win the Miss World title, and the controversy that resulted will be examined at in the film. Along with Mbatha-Raw, the film stars Kiera Knightly (Colette), Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation) and Clara Rosager.
Misbehaviour is based on the real-life story of the 1970 Miss World competition, which was then the most-watched TV show on the planet with more than 100 million viewers. The contest was held in London with legendary stand-up comedian/actor Bob Hope hosting the show. The 1970 Miss World became one of the most memorable and controversial events in pageant history when a global audience had witnessed the patriarchy driven from the stage and the Western ideal of beauty turned on its head.
One of the show’s issue was the sudden protest of the Women’s Liberation Movement, who claimed that beauty pageants demeaned women. The movement gained attention when they caused disruption during the live broadcast, but another controversy erupted when the results were announced, revealing that Miss Grenada won the most coveted title of that night, beating everyone’s favorite contestant. Miss Grenada became the first black woman to be crowned Miss World.
BAFTA-winning director Philippa Lowthorpe is set to helm Misbehaviour with Rebecca Frayn to adapt the screenplay. Left Bank Pictures’ Suzanne Mackie and Sarah-Jane Wheale will serve as producers. Andy Harries and Left Banks’ Frayn along with Cameron McCracken and Jenny Borgars of Pathe are the film’s executive producers. Pathe will handle distribution of the film in the U.K., France and Switzerland as well as Misbehaviour‘s international sales.
Misbehaviour
-
Misbehaviour First Still
