Ink Cast on Tabloid Rise: Pearce, Foy, O'Connell at Venice

VENICE — The cast of "Ink," Danny Boyle's opening film at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, reflected on stepping into the world of tabloid journalism, a realm they often find themselves in as public figures.

Guy Pearce, who plays Rupert Murdoch, admitted he has largely avoided negative tabloid attention, unlike some colleagues. "I've seen it affect some friends of mine," he said, expressing relief at not being in the firing line. Claire Foy, who portrays a fictional journalist, noted the challenge of playing characters from a world she knows personally, but said the job requires letting go of preconceptions.

The film, adapted from James Graham's play, chronicles Murdoch's 1969 acquisition of The Sun and its transformation under editor Larry Lamb, played by Jack O'Connell. O'Connell argued that it's too easy to vilify Murdoch today, emphasizing the need to understand the era. "We see where the two men differ," he said, noting Lamb steered the paper in a direction Murdoch initially resisted, but success made it hard to stop.

Foy highlighted the obstacles women faced in journalism at the time, drawing on Julie Welch's memoir about being a female football reporter. "There weren't even any toilets in football grounds for women," she said, explaining that women had to be "cleverer" to persevere. Her character, Jules, embodies that wave of persistent female journalists waiting for change.

"Ink" is screening in competition at the festival, which runs through September.