Alice Eve admitted she was confused by the backlash over her controversial underwear scene in 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness.
"It was something I voluntarily worked with a trainer to be fit for, was very much prepared for, and very much enjoyed [doing] -- filming, executing, promoting," Eve told Inverse. "The feeling I shouldn't have done it, or that it was exploitation, was confusing to me. There are many things in the world that are confusing. I put it down to one of those anomalies. I'm proud of that scene, and all the work I did."
The scene in question features Eve's Dr. Carol Marcus stripping down into her bra and underwear in front of Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) as she changes into a jumpsuit and prepares to deactivate a torpedo. Many fans considered the scantily-clad moment to be gratuitous and unnecessary, sexualizing a female character for seemingly no reason. But Eve, who plays a science officer in the film, credited the sci-fi blockbuster with providing her the opportunity to portray a strong female character. "Sci-fi is cool because it shows powerful women," she said. "They're not usually married with kids. They're working for their passion."
Eve previously commented on the controversy at the time of the film's release in 2013. When asked if the issue was being blown out of proportion, she responded, "Yes. I was there, after all. I mean, I was there, so I was part of it."
In an interview on TBS' Conan back in 2013, director J.J. Abrams explained that the scene was intended to balance an earlier one of Chris Pine shirtless, but admitted that the delivery was executed poorly. "The intent was: it's Kirk, who was always sort of this womanizing character. So the idea was, have a beat like that in the midst of all this action and adventure," Abrams told host Conan O'Brien. "I don't think I quite edited the scene in the right way. To me, it was kind of a balance... I can also see [the critics'] point of view."
Earlier this year, Paramount Picture scheduled an untitled Star Trek sequel for June 9, 2023. It's not yet clear if the cast from the three previous rebooted films will return, but Abrams remains on board as a producer. Matt Shakman, the director behind Marvel's Disney+ series WandaVision, is slated to helm the latest installment in the sci-fi franchise.
Source: Inverse