“Suffragette” is grimmer than the average period piece: It's violent, tense, and pulsing with urgency that culminates in one horrific breaking point. Carey Mulligan turns in a raw performance as Maud Watts, a laundress in early 20th century London whose employment and family ties are strained as she fights alongside suffragettes like Edith Ellyn (Helena Bonham Carter) and movement leader Emmaline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep).
We caught up with Mulligan to discuss the filming the movie's most horrifying scene, whether Helena Bonham Carter is the raddest actor alive, and why Meryl Streep still owes her an email. Plus: Mulligan reminds us that “The River Wild” deserves way more credit.