In light of the growing sentiment of a shortage in "juicy" female roles in Hollywood, actress Emily Browning echoes the concern. Her new film is set in Ancient Rome, and the roles of women in that time is not as dated as we expect.

In an interview with Collider, Browning talks of her new movie, and specifically, how it depicts women. While the movie is undoubtedly a disaster movie, it strives to be more than a Roland Emmerich movie by establishing firm characters. Director Paul W.S. Anderson makes the effort even though there is the underlying risk of getting drowned out by the volcano.

From Collider: Rome was very much a man's world, at this time. How does she fit in, is she a strong character?

BROWNING: "I read up a lot about women's roles at that time and it was very interesting. Obviously girls were still very much controlled by men and were oppressed in that sense, but women actually had a lot more power in ancient Rome than people expected. I think Cassia is pretty tough, she doesn't want to be told what to do. She says right at the beginning of the film I don't want to marry anyone, I'm not interested. Yeah, I think she manages to hold her own, but is still kind of frustrated that her dad won't listen to her as much as she would like, because at the very start she advises him against getting into bed with the Romans, she hates the idea that there's a Roman Senator at the house, and she disagrees with what's going on there with the Emperor and everything, yeah it's frustrating for her that he won't listen to her opinion I guess."

On female roles in the historical genre movies (like Troy, 300): "I know there's not many girls in this, but I liked the fact that Cassia gets to save Milo a couple of times and I think that's rare you see that in this kind of film. It's still very boy-centric, but it's nice to read it and think 'Oh the girl does something and she's not a moron and she doesn't just get saved, she's not just a damsel in distress the whole time.' So I think that's an addition to this film that will make it, hopefully... elevate it."