
Director Sophie Hyde has unveiled thrilling news regarding her upcoming film An Ideal Wife, starring the talented Emilia Clarke. This period drama centers on the life of Constance Lloyd, an Irish author and the wife of the renowned Victorian playwright Oscar Wilde. Filming is set to commence later this year, and the narrative promises to delve into Lloyd’s evolution as a feminist activist while navigating her tumultuous marriage during Wilde’s imprisonment for homosexuality.
In a recent discussion with ScreenRant‘s Tatiana Hullender at the Sundance Film Festival, Hyde provided intriguing insights about An Ideal Wife. Following her critically acclaimed coming-of-age film 52 Tuesdays (2019) and the anticipated Jimpa (2025), Hyde has solidified her reputation for creating erotic, intimate, and unconventional narratives. “We’re shooting it this year,”the director stated, elaborating on the film’s focus on identity and gender:
For me, sexuality, gender, and all of these things are very expansive ideas. We are not designed to be placed in boxes or into any binary idea about things. Our world is not like that. Biology is not like that. And certainly, socially, we’re not like that. We are incredibly interesting, amazing, vivacious creatures, and I think it’s really important to me to break away from the idea that you can only be one thing or that you have to fit a box that’s preordained for you.
Oscar Wilde is a great example of that. What does it mean to break down the idea of what’s anticipated or expected for your life?
Implications of the Filming Update for An Ideal Wife
Emilia Clarke Takes On a New, Challenging Role

Emilia Clarke’s involvement in An Ideal Wife marks an exciting turning point in her career, showcasing her ability to embrace more complex and layered characters. Best known for her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones, which concluded in 2019, Clarke has continued to expand her repertoire with roles such as the shapeshifting alien G’iah in the MCU’s Secret Invasion. Her upcoming projects, including the film McCarthy, where she plays a senator’s wife alongside Michael Shannon, indicate a shift towards more grounded storytelling.
An Ideal Wife not only provides Clarke the chance to portray another significant historical figure but also enables her to engage in a rich narrative about a strong woman undergoing a profound sexual awakening. Hyde’s previous works, such as Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which explores a retired teacher’s quest for understanding her longings through interactions with a young sex worker, offer a pattern of raw and nuanced examinations of human identity.
Perspective on Emilia Clarke’s Role in An Ideal Wife
A Career-Defining Role in the Making

An Ideal Wife offers Clarke a fitting platform to demonstrate her emotional depth and range as an actress. Her charisma and authentic emotional expression position her as the ideal choice for Constance Lloyd—a forward-thinking woman grappling with love, societal pressures, and her transformative journey. With Hyde acclaimed for her intimate and thought-provoking narratives, this film promises to elevate the Victorian-era drama genre with poignant themes. Clarke’s return to the big screen in a storyline that celebrates the individuality of women is highly anticipated, and An Ideal Wife could mark a pivotal moment in her post-Game of Thrones career.
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