After decades in the film industry, Heather Graham is looking to change the game and she’s ready to build something of her own to do it. Starting out in the 1980s as a teenager, Graham saw first hand how few opportunities existed for women behind the camera. Back then, directing wasn’t even considered an option for most women. “There just weren’t many female directors when I started. It wasn’t cool. It wasn’t encouraged,” she says.
Today, things have shifted. Graham points to Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar success with Barbie as proof that films with a feminist edge can find massive audiences. But she knows there’s still a long way to go. That’s why she’s thinking about launching her own production company, following in the footsteps of Reese Witherspoon and Margot Robbie, women who have built platforms to tell stories that centre women’s experiences.
After decades in front of the camera, Heather Graham is now creating opportunities for women filmmakers behind itGetty Images
Graham’s own journey into writing and directing began with her 2018 film Half Magic, a comedy that tackled shame around female sexuality with humour. Last year, she returned with Chosen Family, a personal story loosely based on her own life, about finding strength in friendships when family relationships break down. Graham has been estranged from her family for 30 years and says making the film helped her process that loss while injecting it with humour.
She’s not slowing down. Up next, Graham will appear alongside Nicolas Cage in The Gunslingers and is working on a new script called Triggered, a mix of serious drama and humour, and another project centred around revenge, with a strong female lead.
Heather Graham is now making waves as a director and producer for female-driven storiesGetty Images
Beyond acting, writing, and directing, Graham feels passionate about changing what audiences see on screen. She believes that women’s stories are still underrepresented and sees a real demand for them. “If women are always the side character, you grow up thinking your story doesn’t matter. But it does,” she says.
For Graham, taking control means not waiting around for better roles, it means creating them herself, and building the kind of Hollywood where more women get to tell their own stories.
The singer jokingly texted Clairo saying, "Let's f**k her up," sparking an online frenzy
Why Charli XCX jokingly declared war on Peppa Pig after one viral comment
Highlights
What started as a playful celebrity game has turned into one of the internet's most unexpected viral moments, with Charli XCX jokingly threatening to "f**k up" Peppa Pig after the beloved cartoon character appeared to dismiss singer Clairo.
The exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing reactions from fans and fellow musicians, while turning an unlikely clash between a pop star and a fictional children's character into a trending talking point.
Peppa Pig's viral remark sparked the joke
The playful exchange began during Peppa Pig's appearance in Pitchfork's Over/Under game, where the animated character rated a selection of music artists.
While expressing admiration for acts including PinkPantheress and The Beatles, Peppa responded to Clairo by saying, "I don't know her," a line widely recognised as a reference to Mariah Carey's famous response when asked about Jennifer Lopez.
The remark, accompanied by a knowing glance at the camera, quickly gained traction online.
Charli XCX rushed to Clairo's defence
After seeing the clip, Charli XCX privately messaged Clairo, writing, "Let's f**k her up," alongside a screenshot of the viral post.
Clairo later shared the exchange on social media, prompting thousands of reactions from fans, many of whom responded with pig and bacon-themed jokes.
PinkPantheress, whom Peppa had praised in the original video, also joined the conversation, posting a message supporting Clairo.
As the exchange continued, Clairo responded to the growing attention with humour, replying to posts before eventually telling followers, "ok that's enoughhhhh lolllllllllll."
Some fans joked that the viral moment was the perfect opportunity for the singer to announce new music, though Clairo replied that she did not have anything ready to share.
Her most recent album, Charm, was released in 2024, with its accompanying tour concluding in 2025.
Charli XCX keeps her focus on new music
While the online joke continued to gather momentum, Charli XCX did not publicly add to the exchange.
Instead, the singer has been focusing on promoting her upcoming album, Music, Fashion, Film, which is scheduled for release on July 24.
Although fans speculated that one of the track titles could be a playful nod to the viral exchange, there has been no indication that the album references the light-hearted social media moment.