In 2004, American actress Margo Stilley made her feature film debut with a movie that is still recognized as one of the most sexually explicit mainstream productions ever made in the UK.
Despite its ongoing controversial status two decades later, Stilley expressed that she is ‘proud’ of her involvement in the film.
The actress from California, who recently appeared in the crime thriller The Host, portrayed Lisa in 9 Songs—a film notable for its depiction of actual sexual acts, including oral sex and an ejaculation scene.
9 Songs, directed by Michael Winterbottom, tells the story of exchange student Lisa and scientist Matt (played by Kieran O’Brien) who meet at a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club concert and start a relationship.
Although 9 Songs was shown at the Cannes Film Festival, it failed to achieve classic status, receiving a low rating of 23 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and numerous reviews labeling it as a ‘tedious watch.’
Regardless of its poor reception and its notoriety for being ‘exceedingly boring’ or even ‘actively annoying,’ according to critics, Margo Stilley, now 42, has defended the film’s explicit content.
In a 2008 discussion with the Irish Examiner, she reflected positively on her debut, notwithstanding the intense reactions from viewers who were ‘really angry’ with her performance.
“When I did press conferences, people would shout abuse at me,” she claimed.
Stilley recounted being labeled derogatory names due to the sex scenes and remarked, “People ask me if I felt that [director] Michael Winterbottom took advantage of me because I hadn’t acted before, but they forget that I developed the character.”
When asked about the audience’s response, Stilley emphasized the film’s themes by saying it was ‘about love and sex,’ and stated, “It wasn’t porn. I mean, I had sex with my boyfriend last night and that wasn’t porn.”
“It was just hot sex! 9 Songs was a real film about love and sex, and I wanted to do that film and I am proud of it.”
Even after gaining significant attention due to 9 Songs, Stilley clarified that she does not feel ‘typecast’ because of it.
“I honestly can say it hasn’t affected my career,” she mentioned. “I don’t get seen only for roles as women who have sex a lot.”
In a conversation about the film last May, she shared that her name was removed from the credits, though this was unintentional.
“I said, ‘oh just put me on as Lisa’ at the Cannes screenings which were not public, then the press got it and The News of the World ran a hotline for anyone who had information on who I was,” she recounted.
“I then realised I was causing a lot of ruckus,” she added, humorously referring to her decision as a form of unintentional ‘marketing genius’.
Before her acting career, Stilley pursued modeling, having moved from North Carolina to Milan.
She eventually settled in London, where a modeling connection led to her role in an Israeli advertisement.
Throughout her career, she has appeared in various other film and television projects, such as the ITV adaptation of Marple: Murder Is Easy, the comedy How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, and the series The Trip starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.