Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p>Ballerinas, mob bosses and Uma Thurman might not sound like an obvious recipe for success, but&nbsp;it turns out it&#8217;s a pretty good one. Oxfordshire filmmaker Vicky Jewson&#8217;s latest film, <em>Pretty Lethal</em>, recently reached number two on Amazon&#8217;s global charts, introducing audiences around the world to her gloriously offbeat brand of action storytelling.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T184536.671.jpg" alt="Director Vicky Jewson with actress Uma Thurman" class="wp-image-205197" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T184536.671.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T184536.671-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T184536.671-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T184536.671-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vicky with Uma Thurman</figcaption></figure>



<p>Working alongside husband and writing partner Rupert, the writer, director and producer has spent years creating female-led action films that challenge the stereotypes she grew up with. Along the way, she&#8217;s worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including Michelle Yeoh, Noomi Rapace and Thurman herself.</p>



<p>As if a global Amazon hit wasn&#8217;t enough, Vicky is already plotting her next move, with a female-led bodyguard TV series, a new thriller and several exciting projects waiting in the wings.</p>



<p>&#8220;When I was younger, women in action films were often either the seductress in fishnet tights and high heels or they&#8217;d get hit around the head with a frying pan and spend the rest of the scene being useless,&#8221; she says. &#8220;I&#8217;m on a bit of a mission to tell more stories in the action space through female protagonists.&#8221;</p>



<p>While she&#8217;s busy creating some of cinema&#8217;s toughest female characters, we ask her to share her cultural picks – and they aren&#8217;t quite what you&#8217;d expect!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-film">FILM</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191711.964.jpg" alt="Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita" class="wp-image-205215" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191711.964.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191711.964-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191711.964-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191711.964-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Luc Besson&#8217;s <em>La Femme Nikita</em> is probably the film that had the biggest impact on me. It was the first time I&#8217;d seen a really kick-ass female character who was layered and complex and had a genuine emotional journey. I watched it when I was about 18, and it completely blew me away.</p>



<p>Before that, I grew up on films like <em>Die Hard</em>, <em>True Lies</em> and all the James Bond movies. I was obsessed with Kevin Costner&#8217;s <em>Robin Hood</em>:<em> Prince of Thieves</em> when I was a kid – I saved up to buy the VHS! I&#8217;d spend weekends making my own James Bond films with my sister and friends. But I never really saw women in those worlds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-books">BOOKS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190055.593.jpg" alt="Rebecca Yarros Books" class="wp-image-205201" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190055.593.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190055.593-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190055.593-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190055.593-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>People always laugh when I tell them this because I spend my days making action movies, but I&#8217;m completely obsessed with romance novels and romantasy. It&#8217;s my ultimate switch-off, and I get through about a book a week.</p>



<p>I&#8217;m a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood and Rebecca Yarros. I absolutely loved&nbsp;<em>Fourth Wing</em>&nbsp;and can completely understand why everyone&#8217;s obsessed with it. Amazon is turning it into a TV series, and, honestly, if anyone involved happens to be reading this, I&#8217;d love to be part of it!</p>



<p>Growing up, though, I was a total tomboy. Anthony Horowitz&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>Alex Rider</em>&nbsp;books were everything to me and probably explain why I ended up making action films. Once I&#8217;d discovered them, I couldn&#8217;t stop tearing through adventure stories.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre">THEATRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190249.235.jpg" alt="Operation Mincemeat" class="wp-image-205203" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190249.235.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190249.235-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190249.235-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190249.235-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;d love to see&nbsp;<em><a href="https://operationmincemeat.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Operation Mincemeat</a></em>. I&#8217;ve read the book, watched the film, and World War II has always fascinated me. My dad grew up during the war, so it&#8217;s an era that&#8217;s had a real influence on me. In fact, I flew in a Spitfire for my 40th birthday last year – as you do!</p>



<p>I also really want to see&nbsp;<em><a href="https://uk.harrypottertheplay.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</a></em>. Somehow I&#8217;ve never got round to it, despite hearing amazing things, so that&#8217;s definitely on my theatre wish list.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exhibitions">EXHIBITIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190703.333.jpg" alt="Cotswold Sculpture Park" class="wp-image-205205" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190703.333.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190703.333-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190703.333-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T190703.333-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cotswold Sculpture Park</figcaption></figure>



<p>We spend quite a lot of time in Mallorca, and I love visiting <a href="https://ccandratx.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CCA Andratx</a>. They run artist residencies – six every summer – and then exhibit the work the following year, so every visit feels different. I always find it really inspiring seeing what people have created and where an idea has taken them.</p>



<p>Closer to home, I&#8217;ve recently been to the <a href="https://cotswoldsculpturepark.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cotswold Sculpture Park</a> and absolutely loved it. There&#8217;s something really special about stumbling across incredible artwork in the middle of the countryside – and it&#8217;s a pretty lovely way to spend an afternoon too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv">TV</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191052.419.jpg" alt="TV series HACKS" class="wp-image-205209" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191052.419.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191052.419-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191052.419-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191052.419-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;m completely hooked on&nbsp;<em>Hacks</em>&nbsp;and have just raced through the latest season. I also recently watched the Martin Short documentary&nbsp;<em>Marty: Life Is Short</em>&nbsp;and absolutely loved it. One thing that really stayed with me was hearing him say that around 80% of his career has been failure. It sounds strange, but I found that incredibly inspiring. In filmmaking, you&#8217;re constantly dealing with rejection and setbacks, so it&#8217;s reassuring to hear somebody so successful admit that&#8217;s all part of the journey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-podcast">PODCAST</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T192542.790.jpg" alt="Adam Buxton" class="wp-image-205220" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T192542.790.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T192542.790-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T192542.790-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T192542.790-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;m a big <a href="https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adam Buxton</a> fan and listen to pretty much everything he does. I also recently enjoyed Louis Theroux&#8217;s interview with Michael Palin. Michael Palin has always struck me as one of those people you&#8217;d happily spend hours chatting to, and he actually reminds me a bit of my dad, which probably explains why I loved it so much.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music">MUSIC</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="482" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/dua-lipa-720x482.jpg" alt="Dua Lipa" class="wp-image-103971" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/dua-lipa-720x482.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/dua-lipa-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/dua-lipa-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/dua-lipa.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<p>I love a good pub gig. The last one I went to was at <a href="https://www.thevictoriainneastleach.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Victoria Inn</a> in Eastleach, which is my favourite pub – although it keeps winning awards, which means everyone&#8217;s going to find out about it!</p>



<p>There was a brilliant Irish acoustic blues musician called <a href="https://willkilleen.weebly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Will Killeen</a> playing, and I loved every minute of it. I&#8217;m a huge blues fan and always on the lookout for live music in unexpected places.</p>



<p>Last year. I took my mum to see Dua Lipa, who is super cool. My mum is a huge fan, so that was great fun.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1300" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191410.155.jpg" alt="Pretty Lethal on Amazon" class="wp-image-205212" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191410.155.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191410.155-615x800.jpg 615w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191410.155-769x1000.jpg 769w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-02T191410.155-308x400.jpg 308w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><em>Inspired to see ballerinas take on the mob?&nbsp;Pretty Lethal&nbsp;is streaming now on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pretty-Lethal-Vicky-Jewson/dp/B0GPF3GFKP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon Prime Video</a>.</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/new-film-releases-june/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lights, camera… action! 8 films to catch in cinemas this June</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/lawrence-power-viola-interview-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Cultural Kicks: Lawrence Power, Viola Player</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on-near-me/whats-on-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire-june/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jolly June! Fabulous things to do locally this month</a></li>
</ul>


My Cultural Kicks: Vicky Jewson, Film Director

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