Ring The Bell – Get Ready For Fighting With My Family!

Funny, heartwarming and phenomenally entertaining, the wonderful Fighting With My Family is one of the year’s great cinematic success stories – and it’s about to land on Virgin Movies! Available to rent from Monday, July 1st from €4.99, it tells the extraordinary true story of British wrestler Paige…and her parents…and her brother… and her other brother… and a whole lot more besides!

 

 

 

You might have spotted star Florence Pugh on the cover of the latest issue of PLAY Magazine, along with an interview with director Stephen Merchant – who admits that he was altogether unfamiliar with the story until it was brought to his attention by a man who knows more than a thing or two about life in the ring!

 

 

THE ROCKY ROAD

 

“It started life as a documentary – and was spotted by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson,” Stephen told PLAY Magazine (check out the full interview here). “He saw that the story was a great, female, Rocky-style true-life underdog story at the core, and suggested I take a look.”

 

 

 

The rest, of course, is history. Stephen crafted a hilarious tale which follows the journey of the woman known to the taxman as Saraya-Jade Bevis, from bingo halls in British backstreets to the bright lights of World Wrestling Entertainment. Finding the perfect actress to take on the part was key, of course; enter Florence…

 

“I love her story of empowerment, as well as her feistiness and funkiness,” the star exoplained. “I had to be a part of this film, which is about this young woman finding the strength to follow her dreams – and succeeding.”

 

 

 

 

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

 

“Florence threw herself into the physical aspects, and immediately got Paige’s inner-strength, humor and emotion,” Stephen adds. “We knew she could be this girl from Norwich, England, where Paige grew up.”

 

Stephen admits that Paige’s background was a vital part of his connection to the story. “I think I related to coming from a working class background with aspirations to be in showbusiness. Wrestling is as much showbusiness as athletics, after all. So going off to America, trying to pursue that dream – I think that sense of ambition was the connection I felt.

 

 

 

Fittingly, it’s not just for hardcore wrestling fans; in fact, at the core of this brilliantly comedic film is a story of family dynamics and following your heart. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cheer, you’ll boo – and then you’ll want to watch it all over again!!

 

 

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