Maisie Williams ‘Impatient’ With Emma Watsons’ ‘First-World Feminism’; Talks About Arya’s Fate in ‘Game of Thrones’
“Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams is a feminist, but she’s “impatient” with Emma Watson’s idea of “first-world feminism.” The 17-year-old English actress said there are other issues that are far worse to be worried about.
In September, Watson delivered a rousing speech about feminism and how men should also take part in it. A number of male and female celebrities took part in her campaign, sending their support via social media. Williams was one of the many people who applauded the 24-year-old “Harry Potter” star.
@EmWatson thank you. #HeForShe
— Maisie Williams (@Maisie_Williams) September 22, 2014
In a new interview while promoting her upcoming role as an online abuse victim in “Cyber Bully,” Williams noted that there are issues out there that also need attention. She admitted that she, too, experienced being subjected to bullying online, but that’s not something she is prioritising to solve.
“There are creepy things that people say online that I shouldn’t have to read,” she told the Guardian, “but there are bigger things going on in other countries.” But while she identifies as a feminist, she has issues with Watson’s idea of “first-world feminism.”
“A lot of what Emma Watson spoke about, I just think, ‘that doesn’t bother me.’ I know things aren’t perfect for women in the UK and in America, but there are women in the rest of the world who have it far worse.”
In the UK drama “Cyber Bully,” Williams plays a teenage girl who is threatened by a computer hacker, who taunts her into doing what he says, or else he will leak her compromising photos. The young actress described cyberbullying as a very serious matter, and perhaps it “hurts even more” than other types of bullying.
Williams also talked about being back on the “Game of Thrones” set, series five of which will air in 2015. She didn’t want to say anything too revealing about her character Arya Stark’s fate, but hinted “there’s a big ending for Arya. They’re basically breaking her down, and you get to see behind the cracks.”
She added, “It’s the end of Arya, as far as anyone knows.”