Actress Kirsten Dunst recently opened up about her hiatus from the big screen, revealing that she hasn’t taken on any roles in the past two years. The reason? Well, according to Dunst, it’s because she was tired of being typecast as the “sad mom.”
In a candid interview with Marie Claire, Dunst expressed her frustration at the lack of diverse and compelling roles available to her in Hollywood, especially as she grows older. Following her acclaimed performance in “The Power of the Dog,” for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, Dunst found herself inundated with offers to play similar maternal roles.
Reflecting on this period, Dunst admitted, “Every role I was being offered was the sad mom.” This trend left her feeling disheartened and questioning her place in the industry. Despite the critical success of “The Power of the Dog,” Dunst found herself longing for roles that challenged her creatively and allowed her to explore different facets of her talent.
Her frustration led to a two-year hiatus from acting, during which she focused on other aspects of her life, including motherhood. Dunst, who is a mother herself, emphasized the struggle of balancing personal fulfillment with the demands of parenthood. “The hardest thing is being a mom and… not feeling like I have nothing for myself,” she shared, echoing the sentiments of many mothers.
Fortunately, Dunst found renewed inspiration in the script for “Civil War,” a forthcoming drama directed by Alex Garland. In the film, she portrays a photojournalist navigating a war-torn United States—a departure from the “sad mom” roles she had grown accustomed to.
Dunst’s career spans decades, with notable roles in films such as “The Virgin Suicides,” “Bring It On,” and the “Spider-Man” trilogy. Despite her success, Dunst revealed regrets about not speaking up for herself earlier in her career, particularly in instances of mistreatment on set.
“Civil War,” which also features Dunst’s husband Jesse Plemons, is set to hit theaters on April 12th. As Dunst gears up for her return to the silver screen, fans eagerly anticipate seeing her tackle this new and challenging role.