Tina Turner's Epic Role in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome Revealed by Director George Miller
Legendary singer Tina Turner has passed away at the age of 84 Director George Miller, who worked with her on Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, shares his insights about their friendship and her iconic performance as Aunty Entity Turner's impact on both music and film will forever be remembered
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome director George Miller fondly remembers his time working with the late music icon Tina Turner. While Turner's story has been portrayed in both fictional films (What's Love Got To Do With It) and documentaries (Tina), she had also made her mark in the film industry, appearing in the movie adaptation of the rock opera Tommy and the ill-fated 1978 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie. Nevertheless, her most remarkable performance in a film came in 1985 when she played the role of Aunty Entity, the post-apocalyptic warrior-queen, in the action-packed sequel Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
News of Turner's passing at 84 years old brought back memories of her unforgettable appearance in the Mad Max series, particularly for Miller, who shared his casting experience and memories of working with her in The Guardian. Miller highlights that Turner was "the only person we could think of" who could bring to life the force-of-nature character that is Aunty Entity. He further recounts his time on-set with the icon, reminiscing on the experience.
She possessed the exact opposite of a diva attitude. I had the honor of working alongside her and witnessing firsthand what made her truly remarkable. Her mental acuity was unparalleled, and she possessed a keen understanding of every situation's dynamics. Her sense of humor was infectious, and she had a playful nature, often bursting into fits of laughter. She was a person of genuine substance, with depth that extended beyond the surface. I believe her wisdom stemmed from her early-life struggles, which she overcame with resilience and determination. Aunty Entity was a groundbreaking character in the Mad Max series, representing the first strong female lead.
The original Mad Max and its sequel, The Road Warrior, both revolved around Mel Gibson's character, Max, and his battles in a post-apocalyptic world. As a result, there was very little room to develop female characters in these films. Max's wife in the original movie was mostly portrayed as a damsel in distress, while women played a secondary role in The Road Warrior. However, the character of "Warrior Woman" (played by Virginia Hey) did leave an impression, despite not even having an actual character name.
The introduction of an intriguing and multi-dimensional female character in the Mad Max franchise didn't occur until Thunderdome, when Aunty Entity, played by Turner, made her debut. As the leader of Bartertown, a tough post-apocalyptic community, Aunty Entity is Max's equal in both physical and mental prowess, and she surpasses him in her willingness to bear the weight of leadership in a world that desperately needs it (rather than another hero).
Miller may have learned a valuable lesson from Turner's contributions to Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, as he later revisited the series with Fury Road, in which Charlize Theron's Furiosa served as co-lead alongside Tom Hardy's Max. When the Mad Max franchise resurfaces once again, Furiosa will be the main character, with Anya Taylor-Joy taking over for Theron. Turner's powerful performance as Aunty Entity laid the groundwork for Theron and Taylor-Joy's portrayals of strong female characters in the Mad Max universe, years before they took the reins.
