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Emily Bett Rickards, perhaps best known for her beloved role as Felicity Smoak in Arrow, is stepping into the squared circle this weekend with her portrayal of legendary female wrestler Mildred Burke in feature film Queen of the Ring, which is now playing nationally.
Speaking to PWInsider.com on the red carpet during the film's NYC premiere, Rickards shared insights into her transformation for the role, the challenges of embodying a wrestling pioneer, and her deepened appreciation for the sport of professional wrestling.
Taking on the role of a real-life icon was no small feat for Rickards. She described the experience as both a responsibility and a passion project. "When things are your passion, they feel that much more like your purpose. You’re fueled by that purpose," she explained.
Burke, a trailblazer in women’s wrestling during the mid-20th century, paved the way for female athletes in a male-dominated industry. Rickards emphasized the importance of honoring Burke’s legacy while also presenting the struggles she faced in an era that was not welcoming to women in professional sports. "We wanted to give honor to who she was, portray her in the way that she would've wanted, but also be honest about what the struggles were of her life and the era that she was in."
One of the biggest challenges Rickards faced was the physical transformation required to embody Burke. "The muscle, man. Putting on that muscle helped me find out who she was. How she walked in the world, her strength. How she operated through, and the bravery that that took in that era and also the dedication."
To prepare, Rickards trained extensively in Louisville with wrestling professionals, including Al Snow, Kal Herro and Doug Basham in Kentucky's Ohio Valley Wrestling.
Rickards compared wrestling to stage combat, noting the added element of persona and storytelling that makes the sport unique. "Because we're in that container and we know the sport that we're in, it's a little different than I think close quarters combat in a sense. Which is just as fun. But uh, wrestling's just got, you're also working with a persona, so you're doing a storytelling vibe. Like, that is the juice of wrestling. That is the je ne sais quoi. You know, that's what you're going for. That gives you a little extra pizzazz, and that's why we love wrestling so much. It's the storylines, storylines, storylines."
"Before taking on the role, Rickards wasn’t deeply immersed in the world of professional wrestling. However, the training and storytelling elements of the sport "Absolutely" won her over.
For those unfamiliar with Mildred Burke, Queen of the Ring serves as an introduction to her groundbreaking journey. While the film takes some creative liberties, Rickards hopes that audiences, regardless of their wrestling knowledge, leave the theater feeling empowered. "Well one, I want you to leave feeling inspired to go after your own dreams. I want you to be able to believe in yourself. And I also want you to know that we are all built up of these dualities and that equality only makes us stronger. In every avenue of our humanity, it only makes us all stronger."
With Queen of the Ring, Emily Bett Rickards steps out of Felicity Smoak’s shoes and into the wrestling boots of Mildred Burke, delivering a performance in a film that is very much hers, as she appears in almost every frame of the film. The responsibility was not lost on her.
"You have a responsibility to bring honesty to this woman's life and I don't take that lightly. I like hard work. That's part of my passion and part of where Mildred and I related. So hopefully audiences will feel that and be able to relate to her. All audiences will be able to relate to her and the passion that she has."
Going forth, Burke and Rickards will be intertwined forever, with good reason.
Queen of the Ring is currently playing in theaters. For more, visit www.QueenoftheRing.movie.
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