The star of the film 9 Songs, known for its explicit scenes, has spoken in support of the movie two decades after it premiered.
Margo Stilley, who played a pivotal role in the 2004 film, has since appeared in other productions such as The Trip, The Royals alongside Elizabeth Hurley, The Host, and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People.
Directed by the acclaimed Michael Winterbottom, 9 Songs delves into the passionate relationship between Matt, played by Kieran O’Brien, and Lisa, portrayed by Stilley.
This provocative film is known for its authentic intimate scenes, including oral sex and an ejaculation scene, which have sparked considerable debate over the years.
Despite the allure of controversial films, 9 Songs did not fare well with critics. It holds a mere 23 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with some reviewers describing it as ‘actively annoying’.
Regardless of the criticism and the explicit nature of 9 Songs, Stilley confessed she was unaware of the potential controversy it would generate at the time of filming.
In a 2024 interview with LADBible, she remarked, “I just didn’t think would be that interested. I was so wrong.”
“I didn’t understand that I would become the target of Britain’s repressed sexuality and all the rage that comes with sexual repression [and] as the woman I was the figurehead for it,” she continued.
Back in 2005, she expressed to The Guardian that she felt ‘proud’ of the film.
Michael Winterbottom, the film’s director, also defended 9 Songs in a conversation with the publication, stating, “Part of the point of making the film was to say, ‘What’s wrong with showing sex?'”
Stilley further elaborated on her decision to take on the role.
She explained, “I wanted to make a film about something I really believe in, which is to show sex in a very positive light, as a very important piece of everyday life and a very important piece of a relationship, whether it’s successful or unsuccessful.”
Reflecting on the portrayal of intimacy in films, Stilley added, “What I find in films I see is that sex is always a turning point in action, someone’s cheating on someone, or someone dies. It’s always the kids having sex in horror films that die. And I didn’t like that.”
She contrasted this with explicit films like Ai No Corrida, commenting, “And in the sexually explicit films I’ve seen like Ai No Corrida [the Japanese classic in which the heroine cuts off her partner’s penis], they’re crazy, people don’t do that, it’s not normal!”