In Todd Haynes’ Netflix drama “May December,” a famous actress who is set to portray the subject of a decades-old tabloid sex scandal pays a visit.
Julianne Moore plays Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who was involved in a notorious sex scandal when she was 36 years old. She now lives quietly with Joe, her former friend from the scandal, and their three children. Their peaceful life is disrupted when Elizabeth Berry, played by Natalie Portman, arrives to investigate Gracie’s story.
The film is loosely inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau tabloid scandal of the late 1990s, involving a 34-year-old teacher who had a sexual relationship with her 12-year-old student.
Director Todd Haynes initially tried to downplay the similarities between the film and the real-life Letourneau scandal but ultimately found them impossible to ignore.
While Haynes acknowledges that Gracie is a different character from Letourneau, he found the specificity of Letourneau’s story helpful in shaping the portrayal of Gracie.
In “May December,” Gracie demonstrates a similar unapologetic attitude to Letourneau, asserting her confidence in her life choices despite public opinion.
“May December” is now available for streaming on Netflix.