Through everything, she perseveres, becoming a pioneer in the sport that she loved.
Had you ever heard of Mildred Burke before doing this?
And then, on top of that, the script was honest.
It wasnt hard to piece together.
A photo speaks a thousand words, and in this case, there are a million photos.
you could just see her and see her evolve.
Image via Queen of the Ring
And with someone like this, there wasnt social media and she couldnt hide behind filters.
Its just her and its real.
RICKARDS: Theres still an affinity for film.
Image via Queen of the Ring
Theres an emotionality to it.
you might only take 36 frames on a roll.
I dont know how many you could take on a roll back then, probably 10 or 12.
Image via Queen of the Ring
And its expensive too.
Its expensive now to develop film.
How did this project come your way?
Queen of the Ring chronicles the journey of Mildred Burke, a waitress who transformed into a pioneering female wrestler. Burke challenged gender norms by defeating male wrestlers and became the longest reigning champion, navigating the duality of being both a formidable brawler and maintaining her feminine identity.
Was this just an audition that came up?
RICKARDS: I received the script in my inbox.
The answer was no.
And how comfortable I was with physicality, which was very comfortable.
It has really opened up my eyes, in terms of my process and acting.
It just makes me hungry for more.
How did you prepare for that?
How did you figure out how to get the look you wanted?
RICKARDS: Well, I had a team of people.
I had so much guidance and I wouldnt have been able to do it without them.
I wouldnt have had any knowledge.
I dont know what I would have done.
I probably would have just done bicep curls and given up.
Theres such a lesson in that.
Thats such a power of the mind, really.
Theres a lot of gratitude that I have for that.
RICKARDS: Those insecurities pop in.
I dont know how they wouldnt.
Thats what I love therapy for.
No matter what you wanna do, its gonna be difficult.
You really do have to believe in yourself to combat stress and to get there.
Community is important for that, of course, but those doubts seep in.
When youre overtired, its worse.
Your nervous system can get burnt out.
My nervous system turns into a little bit of a machine, especially with Mildred.
I think that was Mildreds nervous system in me.
There was just this machine aspect to it.
She needed some sort of engine to get through, and I was holding onto that for a lifeline.
I was like, Oh, I have this.
Ive worked on this.
And then, there was the de-load.
It was just a new bang out of being, to de-load from her and that body.
So, moving forward, Ill probably have a little bit different of an experience.
Did this change your own perception of how those two things can really co-exist with each other?
RICKARDS: I guess my perception of those things co-existing is fairly strong.
Because of people like Mildred and women like my mother, Im privileged, in that way.
Im starting from a new foundation.
Mildred was the foundation.
The same could go for men and people who are non-binary, as well.
We have this idea of gender and strength, and those are all constructs.
You get to be who you are.
The more strength that you have in being yourself, only serves the people around you.
Mildred definitely had that too.
Thats an interesting question, and an interesting psychology of our world.
Shes wrestling men before they were even any women that they could find.
What was it like to shoot those scenes in the ring?
Did you have one that was your favorite to shoot?
RICKARDS: I wrestle Toni Storm.
I think thats my favorite match, in general.
All the women I got to wrestle and train with in this are.
The ending match was also really fun.
The circus ones were super fun too.
My partner came to visit for four days.
He was just like, What have you been doing for the last six months?
What is happening here?
All of it was fun and all of it was an education.
I dont know how else to say it.
I bow down to OVW for all of their effort.
We get a whole journey through her wrestling costumes and theres real evolution with that.
It was not a particularly loving relationship, and it was volatile.
What was it like to figure that out?
How do you feel safe and comfortable in shooting something like that?
RICKARDS: I was really dedicated to telling her honest story.
She was a woman of a time who was setting a foundation for us women today.
Not only that, but she mentions all the little girls that look up to her.
As Emily, that is so painful for me to feel that hurt.
I just dont want her to live with any jot down of regret.
I feel for her.
She has contact with those little girls she talks about.
Shes got her mom.
That scene is not necessarily about Billy.
I hope Mildred is proud of that.
Whats next for you?
How do you figure that out once you play someone like this?
RICKARDS: I dont know.
Its an opportunity to get to transform like this, as an actor.
Im going to get emotional.
Shes made such an impact on my life.
I think every character sticks around, in a way.
I dont know who that is.
Its exciting, but I also wish I knew now.
Has that bar always been high for you, or does an experience like this raise it even more?
Letting creativity in, as opposed to just reaching for it, is my personal battle.
I would imagine that maybe thats not for everyone.
There are a whole bunch of different types of actors.
Everybody loves stories, but everybody loves different things.
Im not perfect for this.
There is no perfect.
But Id have to figure out this timing and theres something here I dont quite understand.
Mildred gave me the confidence to love that again.
When I was younger, I was like, No problem.
Those scary things sound awesome.
I dont know if thats accepting my personal creativity and accepting myself, as well.
Its a life journey.
No matter what youre doing, its something.
Learn more about the film at:https://www.queenofthering.movie/
