Jordana Brewster credits Michelle for helping evolve the role women play in the Fast films:
“Michelle insisted to [director Rob Cohen] that Letty was not just going to be this girlfriend, because Mia and Letty were a little bit thin on the first one. Michelle was like, ‘Absolutely not, this is how she’s going to be.’ She fleshed her out and made sure she was strong. It was so cool to see her work, so I really credit Michelle with bringing a kickass woman to the screen from the very beginning.
Obviously, it evolved from there with the addition of Gina Carano, and now Charlize Theron plays the villain — and the addition of Helen Mirren is beyond. I think it’s amazing to be able to see, I love Michelle and Gina’s fight — that all of that’s not just relegated to the boys was very cool.”
Michelle says she doesn’t care about the money, she will take a stance by quitting the series, because the message it sends to viewers about the representation of women in films is most important:
“At the end of the day, the only leverage I have as an individual is my participation. That’s the only leverage I ever use with anything. It’s like, look, this doesn’t agree with my ethics, morals. My heart doesn’t feel right doing this in front of millions of people, so I can always oblige myself and depart because money, to me, isn’t as important as my lines that you’re not allowed to cross.
I can have fun within those boundaries, but it has tagged me like a rough chick because I can’t find an alternative within those boundaries.”