After working with him on the upcoming film “Widows,” Michelle Rodriguez holds director Steve McQueen in the highest regard, telling TheWrap at the Toronto International Film Festival that he has a unique gift that only a precious few she’s worked with have shown.
“He’s a human that has an ability to see potential before it’s brought out,” she said. “It’s the ability of seeing through the veil, and that can shock even the actor that’s being chosen to step up, because it means that person, that individual has an aspect of themselves they might even be afraid of or not even know existed that they’re going to have to pull out, and that’s where people grow.”
Also Read: Alexander Skarsgard, Jesse Eisenberg Film 'The Hummingbird Project' Heads to The Orchard
In a similar way, the four heroines of “Widows” are pushed past limits they never dreamed they’d cross, with Rodriguez joining Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, and Cynthia Erivo as a quartet of widows whose husbands are killed during an armed robbery. Stricken with grief, the widows decide to press forward and finish the job their significant others had started.
“Widows” hits theaters November 16. Watch Rodriguez’s remarks in the clip above.
The Scene at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto 2018 (Exclusive Photos)
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The scene at Power Women Lunch Toronto
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman, CherryPicks founder Miranda Bailey, Wattpad Studios Deputy General Manager Ashleigh Gardner and #MovetheDial founder & CEO Jodi Kovitz at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
#MovetheDial founder & CEO Jodi Kovitz and Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles James Villeneuve at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman with "Free Solo" co-director Chai Vasarhelyi, "Mouthpiece" co-writer/director & producer Patricia Rozema, "Rafiki" director Wanuri Kahiu and "Capernaum" director Nadine Labaki arrive at Power Women Lunch
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"Free Solo" co-director Chai Vasarhelyi checking in to the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Guests checking in at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests enjoying lunch at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman opens up the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman introduces the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles James Villeneuve gives opening remarks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles James Villeneuve speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests enjoy lunch at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Toronto Film Festival VP of Advancement Maxine Bailey and filmmaker Molly McGlynn speak at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Maxine Bailey and Molly McGlynn speak at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Maxine Bailey and Molly McGlynn speak at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Maxine Bailey speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
A guest documents Maxine Bailey and Molly McGlynn at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
A guest at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests enjoying lunch at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman introduces the "Women in Tech" panel at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman, Wattpad Studios deputy general manager of Ashleigh Gardner, CherryPicks founder Miranda Bailey and #MovetheDial founder & CEO Jodi Kovitz at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Wattpad Studios deputy general manager Ashleigh Gardner speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
CherryPicks founder Miranda Bailey speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
#MovetheDial founder & CEO Jodi Kovitz speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Ashleigh Gardner, Miranda Bailey, and Jodi Kovitz at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Ashleigh Gardner speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
CherryPicks founder Miranda Bailey speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
#MovetheDial founder & CEO Jodi Kovitz speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Ashleigh Gardner speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Jodi Kovitz at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman, Wattpad Studios deputy general manager Ashleigh Gardner, CherryPicks founder Miranda Bailey and #MovetheDial founder & CEO Jodi Kovitz at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Jodi Kovitz speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
An attendee at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap film writer Matt Donnelly watches the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman, "Free Solo" co-director Chai Vasarhelyi, "Mouthpiece" co-writer/director & producer Patricia Rozema, "Rafiki" director Wanuri Kahiu, and "Capernaum" director Nadine Labaki at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman and "Free Solo" co-director Chai Vasarhelyi at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman with "Telling Our Stories" panelists at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Rafiki" director Wanuri Kahiu speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman, "Free Solo" co-director Chai Vasarhelyi, "Mouthpiece" co-writer/director & producer Patricia Rozema, and "Rafiki" director Wanuri Kahiu at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Patricia Rozema listens to "Rafiki" director Wanuri Kahiu at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Chai Vasarhelyi speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Wanuri Kahiu speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Capernaum" director Nadine Labaki speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Mouthpiece" co-writer/director & producer Patricia Rozema speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Capernaum" director Nadine Labaki speaks at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
CherryPicks founder Miranda Bailey with a guest at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
All proceeds donated from guests are directed to TIFF’s Share Her Journey campaign -- empowering women in front and behind the screen.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman with guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Mouthpiece" co-writer/director & producer Patricia Rozema with guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Free Solo" co-director Chai Vasarhelyi, "Rafiki" director Wanuri Kahiu and TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Mouthpiece" co-writer/director & producer Patricia Rozema with a guest at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
"Capernaum" director Nadine Labaki shares a hug with TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
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Photographed by Lu Chau/Photagonist.ca for TheWrap
Guests at the Power Women Luncheon Toronto.
Filmmakers and tech executives share stories from the front lines
The scene at Power Women Lunch Toronto