Young Woman And The Sea Director Joachim Rnning Marvels At Daisy Ridley Channeling Trudy Ederle

The incredible true story of Trudy Ederle, one of the greatest athletes in history, unfolds in Young Woman and the Sea. Trudy found her calling the first time she stepped foot in the water, quickly winning multiple awards and breaking records. While she won a gold medal at the 1924 Olympics, her swim across the English Channel in 1926 undeniably cemented her place in history.

Young Woman and the Sea, based on Glenn Stout’s book of the same name, was adapted by screenwriter Jeff Nathanson with director Joachim Rønning bringing this inspiring story to the big screen. Daisy Ridley passionately brings Trudy to life on screen both as the star of Young Woman and the Sea and as a producer. Ridley leads a powerhouse cast in this period piece that not only tells an astounding sports story but the story of an immigrant family in America in the 1920s.

Screen Rant interviewed Young Woman and the Sea director, who revealed that Ridley had a unique swimming style and dedicated herself to this physically and emotionally taxing role. He also explained how she channeled Trudy Ederle and why the family is at the center of the movie.

Joachim Rønning Felt That Daisy Ridley “Was Channeling Trudy”

The role of Trudy is a taxing one, not only taking on the emotional arc of this story, but it is an extremely intense role as well. Ridley actually did the swimming in the open ocean, and it seems, similar to Chris Evans’ running style, her swimming strokes were unique enough that she needed to be the one swimming even in the wise shots.

Joachim Rønning: Obviously, that was very important to find our Trudy, and we were so lucky to get [Daisy]. I must say Daisy Ridley, I remember very early on I was talking with her and said, I really want to try and do this as much for real [as possible]. I want to do this in the ocean and have you swimming in the real ocean. And she said, Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s do it. I’m really excited to do it. But then, of course, in the back of my mind, I was always thinking, This is never going to [happen], she is going to back out of that.

But then she started training for months. She was learning how they swam a hundred years ago, and also open water swimming, which is its own technique. The day came and we were for weeks and weeks in the open ocean and she swam. She swam like in 60-61 degrees. Her lips blue, never complaining, always asking for more. I even had stunt swimmers or double swimmers ready to go in and do the wide shots and stuff like that.

But she had such a forceful stroke that I ended up just using her as much as I could because nobody could really swim like Daisy. I felt that she was channeling Trudy, somehow. And maybe we got a little bit of a taste of how it was. Obviously we were not risking our lives and I hope that you can feel it a little bit when you watch the film that we were out there and Daisy doing it.

I think you said it the best: Daisy channels Trudy, and I feel like she kind of disappears into this role. What did she bring to the role that went beyond the page?

Joachim Rønning: I think she has it, her personality. Obviously, she’s a great actor, but she’s like a force of nature in herself. I think you feel that when you talk with her. You don’t mess with her. It was such an inspiration to work with her really, and just let her be Trudy, and telling this story with Daisy.

“It Was Important For Me To Tell The Story Through The Eyes Of Her Family”

Young Woman and the Sea is set during the 1920s, but unlike many movies in this era, it doesn’t show the glamorous side of the Roaring Twenties. Instead, it shows a family of immigrants trying to fit into America and societal norms while staying connected to the old ways. Trudy, however, breaks those conventions as she becomes one of the greatest athletes in the world.

Joachim Rønning: It was a very structured time especially for immigrant families and German immigrants that they were. It was normal to be married away, where families got together and figured out what was the best way of surviving in America at the time. That was usually why people marrying each other and families coming together like that.

Obviously, Trudy was different. She didn’t want that. I guess nobody really wanted that, obviously, but I think somebody fell into the pattern of that. The sister Meg, she represents that side of society and women of the time that felt that they had to do that. And there was no other way. But Trudy wanted it differently.

This isn’t just a sports movie because I think the support of the family is crucial to this film. Because when Trudy’s by herself, that’s when things get difficult. Can you talk about the family dynamic and the family bond that we see in this film?

Joachim Rønning: It was very important for me to tell the family story here. I made the movie for my daughters. I wanted to find an inspirational film for them to relate to. I think the family aspect of the story was what I could probably relate to the most. As a filmmaker I’m never home as much as I want to be home. That was like the father and the mother and each one of their relationship with Trudy representing a part of society of the time.

I think it’s important for the audience to have someone to see this story through the eyes of the father or through the eyes of the mother or through the eyes of the sister. Because I think it can be hard sometimes to identify with Trudy because she’s just a force of nature and willing to risk her life for something she believed in. Very few of us have that conviction. So it was important for me to tell the story through the eyes of her family and the importance of family and supporting each other.

About Young Woman And The Sea

Young Woman and the Sea tells the story of Gertrude Ederle, an American swimming champion, who first won a gold medal at the 1924 Olympic Games. In 1926, Ederle became the first woman to swim 21 miles across the English Channel.

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Source: Screen Rant Plus

Young Woman and the Sea

Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England.
 

Director

Joachim Rønning

Release Date

May 31, 2024

Writers

Jeff Nathanson

Cast

Daisy Ridley , Tilda Cobham-Hervey , Stephen Graham , Christopher Eccleston , Jeanette Hain

Runtime

100 Minutes

Main Genre

Biography

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