---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a very difficult time when a…"
description: "\"There was a very difficult time when a female hero was a man in a woman's body. 'Hunger Games' really changed that: a woman leading a non-woman's film ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg"
---

#  There was a very difficult time when a female hero was a…

![“There was a very difficult time when a female hero was a man in a woman's body. 'Hunger Games' really changed that: a woman leading a non-woman's film in the action genre. I think 'Wonder Woman' does that on a very big scale.” quote by Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg)

> “There was a very difficult time when a female hero was a man in a woman's body. 'Hunger Games' really changed that: a woman leading a non-woman's film in the action genre. I think 'Wonder Woman' does that on a very big scale.”

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Female leads can dominate action genres, breaking gender stereotypes in cinema.

**In simple terms:** Women can lead action films.

Key Takeaway

Promote gender‑balanced storytelling.

Themes

gender film leadership

Mood

empowering critical

Type

cultural inspirational

When to use this quote

- casting decisions
- box office trends
- cultural impact

Key Concepts

representation media studies

Questions to Reflect On

- How can studios support more female heroes?
- What impact does representation have on audiences?

A Different Perspective

Industry bias still limits opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Difficult time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-time/) [Female Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-hero-1725266/) [Film Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-action-1682951/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Hunger Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger-game/) [Hunger games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger-games/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Woman Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-film-307437/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wonder woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder-woman/)

## Related quotes

> [I was aware that I was the first person of all time getting to direct a Wonder Woman film, and that was taken very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-was-aware-that-i-was-the-first-person-of-all-time-getting-to-direct/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [ I'll tell you...why Wonder Woman worked. Or Bionic Woman. Or any of those \[shows\] really. It was because it wasn't about brawn...it was about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-carter/i-ll-tell-you-why-wonder-woman-worked-or-bionic-woman-or-any-of-those/)

[Lynda Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-carter/)

> [A woman doesn't have to direct a woman's film and a man doesn't have to direct a man's film; otherwise, where would we be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/a-woman-doesn-t-have-to-direct-a-woman-s-film-and-a-man-doesn-t-have/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I never want to set a belief that a woman has to direct a woman's film, meaning she can't direct a man's film. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-never-want-to-set-a-belief-that-a-woman-has-to-direct-a-woman-s/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I fell asleep during 'The Dark Knight Rises.' I fell asleep during 'The Hunger Games,' all of them. I cannot stay awake. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-fell-asleep-during-the-dark-knight-rises-i-fell-asleep-during-the/)

[Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/)

> [The closest I'll get to winning the Hunger Games is when I spot the last donut in the office kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-closest-i-ll-get-to-winning-the-hunger-games-is-when-i-spot-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“He forced his fists to unclench. "Look, lady, we're not going to go all Hunger Games on each other. Isn't going to happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-forced-his-fists-to-unclench-look-lady-we-re-not-going-to-go-all/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [The film opens up the world beyond Katniss' point of view, allowing the audience access to the happenings of places like the Hunger Games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-film-opens-up-the-world-beyond-katniss-point-of-view-allowing-the/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [I decided to go to school for advertising and graphic design. That was what I was gonna do but acting is that thing, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayo-okeniyi/i-decided-to-go-to-school-for-advertising-and-graphic-design-that-was/)

[Dayo Okeniyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayo-okeniyi/)

> [As a fan of the books, I feel fortunate to be part of 'The Hunger Games' family. It was an amazing experience; I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/as-a-fan-of-the-books-i-feel-fortunate-to-be-part-of-the-hunger-games/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

> [When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. A middle-aged American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/when-i-see-a-fan-coming-over-i-can-t-help-but-make-an-assumption/)

[Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/)

> [Throwing a McDouble in the air at a fat camp and shouting, LET THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/throwing-a-mcdouble-in-the-air-at-a-fat-camp-and-shouting-let-the/)

[Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/)

> [We did a 'Vanity Fair' spread for 'The Hunger Games,' and we were on set, and I saw a little head pop up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/we-did-a-vanity-fair-spread-for-the-hunger-games-and-we-were-on-set/)

[Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/)

> ['The Hunger Games' takes place in Panem, a country which is part of America. It's post-apocalyptic. There's been a global war. The Panem country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-hemsworth/the-hunger-games-takes-place-in-panem-a-country-which-is-part-of/)

[Liam Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-hemsworth/)

> [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/)

[Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/)

## More by Patty Jenkins

> [I'd just sort of gravitated toward the arts, and I had always loved music and really loved theater, even though I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-d-just-sort-of-gravitated-toward-the-arts-and-i-had-always-loved/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [That was devastating to me: how a bright, energetic kid could turn doomed and desperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/that-was-devastating-to-me-how-a-bright-energetic-kid-could-turn/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [It's not palm trees and neon signs in Florida; it's strip malls, highways, hot sun beating down on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/it-s-not-palm-trees-and-neon-signs-in-florida-it-s-strip-malls/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [It was harder, I think, to get attention for the films that I wanted to do than I expected it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/it-was-harder-i-think-to-get-attention-for-the-films-that-i-wanted-to/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [Hollywood can't stand heroes who aren't sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/hollywood-can-t-stand-heroes-who-aren-t-sympathetic/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [It's not about superheroes. This is the method of universal storytelling that all people have... To me, they're the same as the Greek myths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/it-s-not-about-superheroes-this-is-the-method-of-universal/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I love a great myth. I love a superhero origin story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-love-a-great-myth-i-love-a-superhero-origin-story/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I have an aggressive streak of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-have-an-aggressive-streak-of-my-own/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [It's not easy to be a hero. You do it because of what you believe, not because of what other people deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/it-s-not-easy-to-be-a-hero-you-do-it-because-of-what-you-believe-not/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I can't take on the history of 50 percent of the population just because I'm a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-can-t-take-on-the-history-of-50-percent-of-the-population-just/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I'm making a movie about Wonder Woman, who I love, who to me is one of the great superheroes, so I just treated her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-m-making-a-movie-about-wonder-woman-who-i-love-who-to-me-is-one-of/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I had to adapt to other worlds, and that helped to educate me that we are all basically the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-had-to-adapt-to-other-worlds-and-that-helped-to-educate-me-that-we/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I think that what Wonder Woman stands for is gorgeous and incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-think-that-what-wonder-woman-stands-for-is-gorgeous-and-incredible/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I don't think I could have made a good movie out of 'Thor 2' because I wasn't the right director. And I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-don-t-think-i-could-have-made-a-good-movie-out-of-thor-2-because-i/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [I was thinking I would love to make something that is a successful film that everybody sees, but I wasn't thinking about the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-was-thinking-i-would-love-to-make-something-that-is-a-successful/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

[Explore all 99 Patty Jenkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There was a very difficult time when a female hero was a man in a woman's body. 'Hunger Games' really changed that: a woman leading a non-woman's film in the action genre. I think 'Wonder Woman' does that on a very big scale.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Patty Jenkins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-female-hero-was-a-man-in-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-female-hero-was-a-man-in-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/patty-jenkins-6283_action_there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-f_2942036.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There was a very difficult time when a female hero was a man in a woman's body. 'Hunger Games' really…” — Patty Jenkins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Patty Jenkins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There was a very difficult time...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-female-hero-was-a-man-in-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/there-was-a-very-difficult-time-when-a-female-hero-was-a-man-in-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
