Margot Robbie's production company has greenlit a film based on the hit podcast 'Bad Bridgets', which explores the lives of Irish women who turned to crime as they navigated poverty and abuse in 19th century America. The project, set to star Daisy Edgar-Jones and Emilia Jones, follows two sisters from famine-stricken Ireland who find themselves entangled in the shadowy world of sex workers, thieves, and killers known as 'Bad Bridgets'.
The film is an adaptation of the book by historians Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, who delved into dusty archives to uncover the often-overlooked stories of female Irish emigrants. The researchers found that women made up 86% of the female prison population in New York, with a staggering 706 out of 1,238 foreign-born sex workers being Irish.
The 'Bad Bridgets' podcast and book challenge the conventional narrative of Irish women as domestic servants or pious wives. Instead, these women were often portrayed as fierce and defiant, using their wit and cunning to survive in a harsh environment. Fans of the podcast have praised the project for shedding light on this lesser-known aspect of Irish history.
Director Rich Peppiatt, known for his semi-autobiographical film 'Kneecap', will bring the story to life alongside Oscar-winning production designer James Price and costume designer Kate Hawley. The film is set to begin shooting in Ireland and Northern Ireland next year.
The historians behind the book are thrilled with the project's success, saying they're "amazed" and "brilliant" news. They'll have a say in the adaptation but trust the director to bring their research to life. For now, they'll continue researching and teaching, with their fashion sense on the side โ "what we'll wear for the red carpet" being their main concern.
The film is an adaptation of the book by historians Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, who delved into dusty archives to uncover the often-overlooked stories of female Irish emigrants. The researchers found that women made up 86% of the female prison population in New York, with a staggering 706 out of 1,238 foreign-born sex workers being Irish.
The 'Bad Bridgets' podcast and book challenge the conventional narrative of Irish women as domestic servants or pious wives. Instead, these women were often portrayed as fierce and defiant, using their wit and cunning to survive in a harsh environment. Fans of the podcast have praised the project for shedding light on this lesser-known aspect of Irish history.
Director Rich Peppiatt, known for his semi-autobiographical film 'Kneecap', will bring the story to life alongside Oscar-winning production designer James Price and costume designer Kate Hawley. The film is set to begin shooting in Ireland and Northern Ireland next year.
The historians behind the book are thrilled with the project's success, saying they're "amazed" and "brilliant" news. They'll have a say in the adaptation but trust the director to bring their research to life. For now, they'll continue researching and teaching, with their fashion sense on the side โ "what we'll wear for the red carpet" being their main concern.