Uma Thurman attends the premiere of ‘Pretty Lethal’ during the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Credit: Rick Kern/WireImage
NEED TO KNOW
Uma Thurman revealed whether she prefers to play a villain or a good person in movies at the premiere of her new film project, Pretty Lethal, at the SXSW Film & TV Festival
“I like to figure out some sort of essential motivation of any character through understanding someone,” she told PEOPLE
Thurman is partly known for her villain roles in 1997’s Batman & Robin and 2025’s The Old Guard 2
Uma Thurman is intentional about how she picks her movies.
The actress, 55, revealed whether she prefers to play a villain or a good person during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the premiere of her new film project, Pretty Lethal, at the SXSW Film & TV Festival.
“I like to figure out some sort of essential motivation of any character through understanding someone. They’re neither good nor bad very often,” she explained at the red carpet event in Austin, Texas, on March 13.
In Pretty Lethal, the Kill Bill alum plays a reclusive former ballet prodigy named Devora Kasimer. A young ballet troupe checks into her unsettling inn after their bus breaks down on their way to a competition.
The movie is directed by Vicky Jewson and also stars Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Avantika, Millicent Simmonds and Iris Apatow.
Uma Thurman attends the premiere of ‘Pretty Lethal’ during the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 13, 2026
Credit: Rick Kern/WireImage
Jewson, 40, spoke with PEOPLE at the SXSW premiere about what Thurman brought to her character.
“Uma is obviously an icon, and she can play a villain like nobody else can,” the director said. “She has a wicked sense of humor, and she also brings empathy to the character that allows you to stay with the character when the most absurd stuff happens.”
Thurman is partly known for her villainous roles, including Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy in 1997’s Batman & Robin and Discord in 2025’s The Old Guard 2. Additionally, her iconic character Beatrix Kiddo/The Bride in the Kill Bill franchise was an assassin driven by vengeance.
Despite having starred in numerous action movies, the actress told InStyle in a March 18 interview that she doesn’t “particularly like violence.”
Uma Thurman in a ‘Kill Bill.’ scene
Credit: Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo
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“Some people really like it; I don’t like it. When I see artful movement, I can enjoy violence and action because I’m blown away by it the way I would be if I saw an extraordinary dance performance,” she said.
Pretty Lethal is out now on Amazon Prime Video.
Read the original article on People
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