Amy Schumer calls 'My Fair Lady's' Henry Higgins a mansplainer

Image
Press Trust of India Los Angeles
Last Updated : Jun 11 2018 | 6:20 PM IST

Amy Schumer called the iconic character of Henry Higgins in the Hollywood classic "My Fair Lady" a "mansplainer".

The 37-year-old actor-writer, who introduced the first Tony nominee for best revival of a musical, "My Fair Lady", called out the state of women's right in the US.

The musical, based on George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" is a comedy about class.

"It tells the story of a scruffy flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who is transformed by Henry Higgins, a man-splaining expert on dialects," Schumer said.

The "I Feel Pretty" star pointed out the production, which first hit Broadway in 1956, continues to be relevant even today.

"This interpretation celebrates Eliza's growing self-confidence and highlights equal rights for women. Because we actually don't have that...

"In Eliza's words, The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated," she added.

At the awards, the revival was nominated for 10 Tonys, including acting nods for Harry Hadden-Paton, who plays Higgins and Lauren Ambrose as Eliza.

Schumer was also nominated for best lead actress in a play for Steve Martin's "Meteor Shower". She lost the trophy to Glenda Jackson for her role in Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women".

"My Fair Lady" also got a Hollywood musical adaptation in 1964, where Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison played Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins respectively.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 11 2018 | 6:20 PM IST

Next Story