Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images
A lot can change in 15 years — butEliza Dushku’s desire to releaseMapplethorpe, a biopic about the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, didn’t.
“The original writer ofMapplethorpehad approached my brother with the original script over 15 years ago,”Mapplethorpeproducer Dushku, 38, tells PEOPLE. “I certainly didn’t choose for it to be that long of a process, but I’ve got to say, it’s sort of incredible how everything aligned.”
The movie premiered on March 9 in Boston, the city where Mapplethorpe died 30 years ago following his battle with AIDS, and anexhibit of his workopened at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City earlier this year.
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“Depending on what pictures you see first, it’s shocking,” Dushku says. “But there’s also something undeniable when you look at one of Mapplethorpe’s photos, it’s not just that the image is shocking or controversial, but they’re so beautiful. I remember even Matt Smith, looking through so many pictures and as a straight man thinking, ‘I didn’t know penises could be so beautiful!’ ”
While Mapplethorpe’s story has remained relevant from the film’s inception to its release, Dushku’s life has evolved in many ways. After starring in pop culture mainstaysBuffy the Vampire Slayer andBring It On, Dushku gave a nuanced performance in the seriesDollhouse.
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The former teen star has also opened up about herexperience with sexual harassment, and received $9.5 million from CBS after accusing herBullcostar Michael Weatherly ofinappropriate behavior.
“In many ways we’ve taken so many steps forward,” she says. “In so many ways, we we’ve also taken many steps backward. And I try to stay in a forward-thinking, positive place, but sometimes that’s been challenged. I also appreciate that there are so many like-minded, brave souls who want to stand up and demand that we don’t forget who we are; that we are not dispensable.”
Peter Palandjian and Eliza Dushku.Dominik Bindl/Getty
Along with learning about healing through her studies, the actress hopes to better society with herformer tennis player husband, 55, through their charity work in Massachusetts.
But that doesn’t mean she’s done with television and movies. “I haven’t quit acting,” Dushku assures. “I haven’t quit Hollywood, but this is just another aspect of my life that is really, really important and exciting to me.”
Mapplethorpeis in select theaters now.
source: people.com
