In Promising Young Woman, for which she is receiving Oscar buzz, Mulligan portrays Cassie, a survivor of trauma who uses her sexuality in a series of revenge schemes.
In its review of the film, industry magazine Variety argued that Margot Robbie, who produced the film, would have been more believable in the role.
While Mulligan’s performance has drawn raves from critics, she has admitted to being bothered by one review in particular.
“It felt like it was basically saying that I wasn’t hot enough to pull off this kind of ruse.”