You might know Gina Gershon as a fearless performer who made her career through several defining choices. But early on in her journey, she was offered a role in Friday the 13th Part 2, a sequel to the widely popular horror franchise that led the slasher genre in the 1980s. But her character’s death scene required her to appear topless. Gershon trusted her instincts and walked away (via Fox News) 

For many aspiring actors, landing this part would have been a dream opportunity. But Gershon’s decision stood out as a rare act of resistance. So, let’s look at why she decided to pass on the film, and why she was right to do so! 

Gina Gershon on Walking Away From Friday The 13th’s Topless Demand

Gina Gershon reflected on the story years later and expressed that she was quite thrilled to be offered the leading role. But her enthusiasm quickly turned into hesitation when she discovered the details, because the creative choice for her character’s death was unnecessary and exploitative. In her memoir, titled AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My B**bs, she wrote:

I wasn’t comfortable with it. It seemed silly to me. Not that I had anything against nudity — I grew up on European films — but only if it makes sense for the character and the story. But when it just seems silly, I don’t know. It just felt like it was something that wasn’t for me. 

Her father did not forbid her from taking the role but reinforced her sense of autonomy. He told her that it was up to her, and that response empowered Gershon to trust her instincts. Ultimately, she chose her personal conviction over early career visibility, and this approach shaped the kind of great work she would do ahead in her filmography. 

Gina Gershon Stood Against Horror Films Sexualizing Women’s Pain 

Gina Gershon | Credits: Fox 5 New York / YouTube

Gina Gershon’s decision to walk away also shows us a broader issue in the horror genre. It has a long-standing history of s*xualizing female characters, and it is usually during moments of violence or vulnerability. Here’s what the actress wrote about the same in her memoir: 

At the time, those kinds of slasher movies always had girls dying with their b*easts exposed. My character would be killed by a stake through the heart, blood dripping down her t—. That seemed pretty lame to me: exploitation 101.

And she is not wrong because it was almost formulaic to use young women as both objects of desire and targets of brutality in these films. If you’ve noticed this pattern as well, why do you think creatives choose to do this with female characters? Is it misogyny, close-mindedness, or something else? 

All Friday the 13th movies are streaming on Paramount+ (USA). 

This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire