Actress Margo Stilley proudly defends her role in the controversial film ‘9 Songs,’ which featured real sex scenes, despite the backlash and criticism it received.
American actress Margo Stilley made a bold statement in 2004 with her feature film debut in 9 Songs, a movie still considered one of the most sexually explicit mainstream films ever produced in the UK. Despite its continued controversy more than two decades later, Stilley has proudly defended her role, claiming she stands by her work.
Stilley, who is now 42, starred as Lisa in the film directed by Michael Winterbottom. The movie follows the intense relationship between Lisa, an exchange student, and Matt (played by Kieran O’Brien), a scientist. The film is known for its raw and graphic portrayal of real sexual intercourse, including an oral sex performance and an ejaculation scene.
The Backlash and Criticism
Despite being showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, 9 Songs didn’t receive the critical acclaim expected. With a low 23% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film garnered negative reviews, with many critics describing it as tedious, boring, and even “actively annoying.”
However, Stilley stands by her decision to participate in such a controversial film. In a 2008 interview with the Irish Examiner, she reflected on her experience and the backlash she faced. “When I did press conferences, people would shout abuse at me,” Stilley recalled. “I was called a ‘whore’ and a ‘slut’ because of the sex scenes,” she added.
Despite the criticism, Stilley continued to defend the film, explaining that it wasn’t pornographic. “People ask me if I felt that Michael Winterbottom took advantage of me, but they forget that I developed the character,” she said. “9 Songs was a real film about love and sex. It wasn’t porn. It was just hot sex!”
A Moment of Pride
Stilley has expressed that she still looks fondly on her first major role. “It was a real film about love and sex, and I wanted to do that film,” she said. “I am proud of it.”
In addition to defending her performance, Stilley has also stated that the role didn’t limit her career. Despite the film’s graphic content, she has gone on to land roles in a variety of film and television projects, including the comedy How to Lose Friends & Alienate People, the ITV series Marple: Murder Is Easy, and The Trip, a series starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.
An Unintentional Marketing Genius
Stilley also shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote about her experience at the Cannes Film Festival. “I didn’t mean to, but I had my name removed from the credits initially,” she admitted. “I just asked them to put me down as ‘Lisa’ for the screenings. Then the press caught on, and it turned into a media frenzy. I realized I was unintentionally creating marketing buzz.” She humorously called it a stroke of unintentional ‘marketing genius.’
A Diverse Career Path
Before entering acting, Stilley worked as a model after leaving her hometown in North Carolina and moving to Milan. She later relocated to London, where a modelling contact helped her land a role in an Israeli advertisement. Over time, Stilley’s career expanded beyond 9 Songs, and she appeared in various TV shows and films.
