Anna Paquin was just 11 when she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for The Piano, in which the main female protagonist does not speak a single word.
Now, the 37-year-old has laughed off speculation she was somehow ‘ordered’ to take on the role of Robert De Niro’s onscreen daughter Peggy Sheeran in Scorcese’s new film The Irishman.
Fans noted that her part has just six words of dialogue, and sees her spend ten minutes onscreen.
Saying instead that she auditioned to snag the film’s only female lead, Paquin explained via Twitter: ‘Nobody was doing any ‘ordering’. I auditioned for the privilege of joining the incredible cast of @TheIrishmanFilm and I’m incredibly proud to get to be a part of this film.’
Silent: Anna Paquin says she’s ‘incredibly proud’ to be the only lead female role in Scorcese’s The Irishman… despite having just one line of dialogue; she plays Peggy Sheeran
Missing the point: Anna Paquin laughed off the idea that she was ‘ordered’ to take on the role of Robert De Niro’s onscreen daughter Peggy Sheeran in Scorcese’s new film The Irishman
In The Irishman her quiet but essential role as Robert De Niro’s onscreen daughter Peggy Sheeran relies on just Paquin’s subtle acting skills to convey her thoughts and feelings.
The Martin Scorcese directed Netflix film was released in cinemas at the beginning of the month, and was lauded by critics.
Paquin is the only female lead (though not the only female character) in the lengthy 209 minute-long film, a gangster epic which stars Hollywood legends Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci amongst others.
During the UK premiere at the 63rd BFI London Film Festival in October, Canadian-born, New Zealand-raised actress Anna directly spoke with MailOnline about having so few lines in The Irishman while portraying her role of Peggy Sheeran.
‘I think a lot can be said without words,’ she said. ‘I think sometimes a look is worth a thousand words and the internalised judgement that she has passed on her father is not something that she would be able to verbalise, not at that stage of her life.
‘She’d need 20 years of therapy to be able to explain to him why he was a problematic parent. But it was really interesting, it was a bit of a challenge but one that was incredibly exciting for me.’
Lack of lines: Though highly praised, some fans have quickly taken to social media to air their views about the 37-year-old actress’s lack of dialogue
Big hitters: Scorsese’s latest gangster epic stars Hollywood legends Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci amongst others
Taking to Twitter, many film fans let their thoughts be known, with one writing: ‘Release the rogue cut of the irishman so anna paquin can talk!’
While another shared: ‘My only real criticism is how #TheIrishman cast Anna Paquin as Robert DeNiro’s daughter and I believe she only has one line (though I might think it was partly intentional).’
‘#AnnaPaquin gets only one line in @TheIrishmanFilm. What was the point of casting her let alone creating the part to begin with?! #TheIrishman #MartinScorsese #Scorsese,’ moaned a third viewer.
‘This annoyed me about The Irishman. Anna Paquin is such a great actress, I was waiting for her to speak more than a line and… it didn’t happen,’ ranted a fourth.
However, some hailed the former X-Men star’s lack of words, with many claiming it was intentional and added to the beauty of the film.
‘#TheIrishman The subtleties in De Niro and Pesci’s performances are joys to behold. I wonder how much will translate to the small screen. This is De Niro’s best work in years. Anna Paquin, with almost no dialogue, delivers nothing but subtlety,’ wrote one fan.
While another remarked: ‘Hot take: Anna Paquin is excellent in THE IRISHMAN and her lack of dialogue is both the point and what makes her arc so devastating.’
With a third adding: ‘In The Irishman, @AnnaPaquin has only one major moment of dialogue, and not only is it a perfectly directed and written moment, her delivery of that dialogue is spot on, and its one of my favorite moments in the entire movie. God, what a great movie this is. #TheIrishman.’#
Shocked: Taking to Twitter, many film fans let their thoughts be known, with one writing: ‘Release the rogue cut of the irishman so anna paquin can talk!’
Opinion: However, there were some film critics who hailed the former X-Men star’s lack of words, with many claiming it was intentional and added to the beauty of the film
Her take: ‘I think a lot can be said without words. I think sometimes a look is worth a thousand words and the internalised judgement that she has passed on her father is not something that she would be able to verbalise, not at that stage of her life’
Meanwhile, director Scorcese himself addressed Anna’s small role in a conversation with Spike Lee on The Director’s Cut podcast, where he told that he and screenwriter Steven Zaillian decided not to expand her character.
He said: ‘I kept asking Steve Zaillian if we could layer her in the story. I decided that she doesn’t have to say anything.’
Discussing a part in the film where Peggy is witness to Sheeran’s violence, he continued: ‘You see your father do something like that, I’m sorry… You see him crush the guy’s hand like that… other kids maybe, but this kid couldn’t take it.
‘She looks at him. She knows he’s up to something and Lucy was great, but Anna ultimately was amazing in the looks.
‘She has one line in the film. There’s something you can’t talk about. She knows it. She knows who he is. He knows she knows.’
The drama sees Taxi Driver star De Niro, 76, take on the role of Frank ‘The Irishman’ Sheeran, a real-life hitman who reflects on his life working for union leader Jimmy Hoffa and the Bufalino crime family.
Despite the criticism of Anna’s lack of speaking role, Scorsese’s latest has garnered five star reviews from critics almost across the board, as they heaped praise on the iconic filmmaker.
