Teyana Taylor is tackling the discourse surrounding her character in "One Battle After Another," an action-thriller that has captivated audiences since its September release. The 34-year-old actress portrays Perfidia, a member of the French 75, a radical group, who finds herself entangled in romantic and sexual relationships with Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn). Throughout the film, Perfidia's sexuality serves as a double-edged sword, offering both empowerment and vulnerability as she becomes the object of desire for both men.
While the film has garnered widespread critical acclaim, some viewers have expressed discomfort with the way Perfidia is sexualized by the two White male characters. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on November 5th, Taylor addressed these concerns, revealing that the portrayal reflects uncomfortable truths about society. "Is that not what Black women go through?" she asked. "We are fetishized, especially by creepy motherf---ers." The All's Fair star continued, "Unfortunately, we are the least protected people," adding that her role depicts "what Black women go through," which she described as "a hard reality to accept."
Taylor also expressed her expectation that the film would spark conversation. "This movie should spark debate," she said. "I always knew it would, because sometimes you just got to shake the table."
Before the movie's premiere, Taylor joined DiCaprio and co-star Regina Hall at CinemaCon in April, where she revealed that her character wouldn't necessarily be seen as sympathetic. "She's always in survival mode," Taylor said. "She's very misunderstood, but she's still selfish... I can't wait for you to meet this character."
Months later, in an interview with The New York Times, DiCaprio praised Taylor's performance and described the lasting emotional impact of her character. "The echoes of [Taylor's] character reverberate throughout the entire movie, and every character is emotionally scarred by Perfidia," he said. "So we knew we needed to get somebody that could be not only bold and outspoken but bring that improvisational talent of truth in the moment. She just embodied that character in a way that I don't think anyone else could. We're all left as carnage after she comes onscreen, picking up the pieces of our lives."
