Misbehaviour

Misbehaviour transports viewers to London in 1970 where a small but determined circle of feminists from the Women's Liberation Movement hatches a provocative plan. They intend to derail the Miss World pageant as it unfolds on live television, challenging a spectacle that equates worth with appearance. Keira Knightley plays Sally Alexander, a thoughtful activist who helps coordinate the stunt, while Gugu Mbatha-Raw portrays Jennifer Hosten, Miss Grenada, whose own presence on stage adds a complex angle to the protest. The plan sparks a national debate about beauty, race, and representation, and the film follows the women behind the moment as well as the media storm that follows.

Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and released in 2020, Misbehaviour draws on real events surrounding the 1970 Miss World contest. The screenplay is by Rebecca Frayn, Gaby Chiappe and Kerry Gill-Pryde, blending drama with social history. It features Keira Knightley as Sally Alexander, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jennifer Hosten, Jessie Buckley as Jo Robinson, Keeley Hawes as Julia Morley, and Phyllis Logan as Evelyn Alexander.

Critics gave Misbehaviour a mixed reception, noting solid performances and a brisk, approachable tone. Knightley anchors the drama with quiet intensity, and Mbatha-Raw adds nuance to the pageant's competing pressures. The film foregrounds themes of feminism, representation, and solidarity across generations, showing how collective action can contest traditional power structures while still exposing the messy realities of public scrutiny.

Misbehaviour did not rack up major awards, and it lacks prominent nominations in the major award circuits. Still it earned praise from audiences for its balanced handling of activism and character driven storytelling, with standout work from Knightley and Mbatha-Raw. The film contributes to conversations about feminist history even without top tier recognition.

Misbehaviour revisits a watershed moment in popular culture that challenged beauty standards and broadcast power. It has helped renewed attention to the 1970 protest and sparked discussions about representation on screen, influencing conversations about feminism in film and media history. It also gives the alliance of activists a human face.