Home / Arts and Entertainment / Tessa Thompson Captivates in Daring Adaptation of Ibsen's "Hedda"
Tessa Thompson Captivates in Daring Adaptation of Ibsen's "Hedda"
8 Sep
Summary
- Nia DaCosta's "Hedda" is a bold, imaginative adaptation of the Ibsen classic
- Tessa Thompson delivers a magnetic performance as the inscrutable Hedda Gabler
- The film transports the story to the 1950s and reimagines Hedda as a Black woman
In September 2025, Nia DaCosta's highly anticipated film "Hedda" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, offering a bold and imaginative take on Henrik Ibsen's classic play. The film, which DaCosta also wrote, transports the story from its original late 20th-century setting to the 1950s and reimagines the central character, Hedda Gabler, as a Black woman played by the magnetic Tessa Thompson.
The film opens the morning after a raucous party hosted by Hedda and her husband, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), to celebrate their entrance into high society. However, the party's true purpose is to impress a university professor in the hopes of securing George a new job. Hedda, a woman defined by the many constraints that hold her, sees the party as an opportunity to exert control over her life and the lives of those around her.
As the night unfolds, Hedda's former flame, Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss), arrives at the mansion, now a changed person and the rival of George for the coveted job. Hedda, unable to control her emotions, sets in motion a series of devastating events that threaten to unravel the lives of those she holds dear. Tessa Thompson's captivating performance as the complex and unscrupulous Hedda Gabler is the driving force behind this thrilling adaptation, which explores themes of repression, desire, and the consequences of one's actions.
Nia DaCosta's "Hedda" is a bold and imaginative reimagining of a classic work, offering a fresh perspective on a timeless story and showcasing the talents of its exceptional cast and crew.
