Samantha Morton defends Liz Truss and hits out at ‘double standards’ for women

Liz Truss

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Liz Truss - Figure 1
Photo The Independent

Samantha Morton, an actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, has spoken out in support of Liz Truss, saying that there are double standards at play in the way the former prime minister has been treated for her brief time in office.

Truss faced widespread mockery for stepping down from her position as prime minister after just 45 days, which made her the shortest-serving leader in British history. Many people criticized her for not lasting longer than a head of lettuce.

However, the actress from The Serpent Queen spoke out against the harsh criticism that Truss faced in a recent interview with The Times.

"We have had some terrible male leaders in the past, but the criticism directed towards Margaret Thatcher, Liz Truss, or Theresa May is unfair," she stated.

One could argue that Liz Truss performed poorly in her role, which is true. However, there tends to be less criticism towards men who also underperform in their positions.

The 47-year-old actress mentioned that she strongly relates to her character, Catherine De Medici, on the MGM Prime Video show. She believes that Catherine portrays the struggles that women face in comparison to men.

Liz Truss - Figure 2
Photo The Independent

The Serpent Queen chronicles the rule of Medici, a young orphan who seized power at the age of 14 and dominated France for thirty years. Known for her merciless control and fondness for using poison, she gained a fearsome reputation during her time as queen.

"According to Morton, she was innovative and ahead of her time. She introduced a love for arts and music, as well as a tradition of supporting artists, to the French court. Additionally, she was the pioneer in France for wearing knickers. Truly remarkable."

The actor from Minority Report has made a debut in the music industry by dropping her first album titled Daffodils & Dirt earlier this year.

She received a prestigious Bafta fellowship in February, which is the highest honor given by the film awards organization. She dedicated her achievement to "every child who has experienced foster care, or who has been in foster care and did not make it."

Morton was raised in foster care, went through periods of being homeless, and was accused of attempted murder, which was later changed to making threats to kill when she brandished a knife at another girl in the care home she lived in. She later expressed regret for the incident.

The celebrity shared her plans to make a difference for children in foster care, beginning with an upcoming meeting with a government official.

"I want to speak with the minister for children about the privatization of the care system - it's unfair and it's not working," she explained during the interview.

I find it very improbable for a child who was in foster care, homeless, and had a criminal record to now be living and working in Hollywood. Nowadays, you have to pay to attend a Television Workshop.

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