Since Sucker Punch, Emily Browning has largely opted for small, indie projects, starting with 2011's Sleeping Beauty, an Australian-made film about a very specific kind of brothel at which men pay to touch women who are sleeping. It's easy to see the story as a deconstruction of societal objectification of women, and even a satire about valuing women for their appearance rather than their talents. There are strong motifs of voyeurism throughout the film, and a desexualization of scenes that, in other movies, might be quite sexual. The connection between the film and Sucker Punch, in which Browning played another woman misunderstood for her appearance to the point of being objectified, is clear.
Sleeping Beauty was a huge challenge for Browning, who not only had to be fully nude on camera, but also had to allow intimate contact between herself and other actors. Browning said that her character, Lucy, was fascinating, and a complete contrast to her everyday self. "I thought her willingness and recklessness and nihilism and her strength was really cool," Browning says. "The fact that it made me uncomfortable was a plus for me." Browning also states that the decision allowed for tremendous personal growth.
It makes sense that Browning, who at the time had gained attention from the mass media and general public, might use this kind of film to question her career and image.
