Megan Fox recently shared that filming the 2009 horror-comedy Jennifer’s Body provided a much-needed emotional release during a difficult period in her career. At a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, the actress explained how playing the demonically-possessed Jennifer Check helped her process the rage and trauma she was experiencing from fame and media mistreatment.
A Personal Connection to a Dark Role
Fox revealed she felt an immediate connection to the script when she first read it. She saw parallels between her own experiences in Hollywood and her character’s journey in the film.
“I read the script and I think it just resonated with me because there’s something about that, whether it’s just perceived or not, I felt like I was being persecuted at that time in my career, and I was struggling a lot with fame and kind of traumatized by fame,” Fox explained.
In the movie, Jennifer Check begins as a popular high school student who is violently sacrificed by an indie rock band seeking fame and fortune. Because she wasn’t actually a virgin as the ritual required, she becomes possessed by a demonic force rather than dying, transforming into a monster who preys on her male classmates.
“And so I resonated with those deeper layers of… you know, before she becomes a monster, she’s just a teenage girl who gets sacrificed for somebody else’s gain. And that very much resonated because that’s kind of how I got… I came into this industry, I think I was 19 when I made my first big movie, and that, I felt like, was reflecting back these energies that existed inside of myself,” Fox said.
Channeling Real-Life Anger On Screen
Fox characterized her younger self during the 2009 filming period as “so lost, so full of that rage that I had towards how I had been treated in the industry.” She specifically recalled the relentless and often misogynistic treatment she received from paparazzi at that time.
She shared one particularly harsh memory from a premiere she attended around that period: “I remember the paparazzi were so ruthless back then — the way they would talk to women. And I walked out just to try to get to my car, and they’re all shooting. And one guy’s like, ‘Megan, why are you such a bitch?’ And another guy is like, ‘Megan, do you think you’re overrated? The internet says so,’ and I’m just trying to do my job.”
Fox explained that embodying Jennifer gave her a constructive outlet for these painful emotions. “I was asked to be at this premiere. I’m trying to get to my car. And so I had all of this grief and sorrow and also anger and rage that needed a place to go. And like I said, being able to just have the permission to be unhinged even in between takes or maybe the entire time we were there, that was very cathartic for me.”
Tapping into Dark Feminine Energy
The role provided Fox with a unique opportunity to express parts of herself that society often discourages women from showing. She found freedom in playing a character who could fully embrace her monstrous side without apology.
“Also gave me a place to put those qualities of myself that are really unhinged, that are not appropriate to express every day of your life, but are still there nonetheless,” Fox stated. “And so there was something so fun about getting to tap into that darker feminine energy that no one really wants to allow.”
This exploration of dark feminine energy through horror has been noted as one reason Jennifer’s Body has gained a significant cult following in the years since its release, particularly among female audiences who appreciate its themes of female rage and empowerment.
A Healing Experience Through Horror
For Fox, the process of making the film became therapeutic during a challenging chapter of her life. She described the overall experience as transformative and healing.
“That was very healing for me, because I was really struggling at that time,” Fox shared. She added that if she had been in a better mental state back then, “I don’t think you would’ve gotten the performance that you got.”
Director Karyn Kusama, who attended the same screening, reflected on the mistreatment Fox endured from both the media and the industry during that period. She noted that Fox’s intelligence and humor were often overlooked, and that the actress had been “dismissed, attacked, mistrusted somehow for not just staying in her place.”
Kusama suggested the role of Jennifer spoke to something Fox “must have already been wanting to flex a little bit, given how up to that moment she had been treated in the press, and by her professional colleagues.”
The Lasting Legacy of Jennifer’s Body
While Jennifer’s Body was not a commercial success upon its initial release and received mixed reviews from critics, it has since been re-evaluated and now enjoys status as a feminist cult classic. The film, which also stars Amanda Seyfried as Jennifer’s best friend Needy, has been praised for its sharp dialogue and exploration of complex female relationships.
The film’s journey from box office disappointment to beloved classic continues, with writer Diablo Cody currently working on a followup project. Director Karyn Kusama has confirmed that Cody is penning a sequel that aims to be just as “fun and crazy” as the original film.
Also Read: Megan Fox Returns to Spotlight in Bold Blood-Inspired Look at ‘Jennifer’s Body’ Screening
