Jessica Chastain and Miss Sloane director John Madden lobby for the anti-hero

Miss Sloane isn't just taking on Washington politics she's taking on gender politics too.

The political thrillerstars Jessica Chastain as Elizabeth Sloane,a ruthlessand sought-afterlobbyist who will do whatever it takes to win.

"Anti-heroes are more interesting than heroes," British director John Madden told CBC's Deana Sumanac about Chastain'scharacter.

"Female anti-heroines are really interesting because that'sbreaking every kind of idea really."

Jessica Chastain and director John Madden on the uncompromising Miss Sloane

8 years ago

Duration 2:11

The stars and director of Miss Sloane talk about fierce female characters and the very relevant political storyline of their film

Chastain, who received Oscar nominations for her roles in Zero Dark Thirty (2013) and The Help (2012), said her strong, assertive character in the film would likely be viewed differentlyhad it been cast as a male.

"I don't think women need to apologize for being ambitious and over-prepared and flawed," she told CBC News at the movie's red carpet premiere in Toronto earlier this week.

"We see male characters like Elizabeth Sloane and they don't have to apologize for the way that they are."

The film, which is set in Washington, D.C. and was shot in Toronto,also stars a number of Canadian actors, including Ottawa-raised RaoulBhaneja.

Bhaneja, whoplays a conservative lobbyist in the film,said the movie's political storylinewill "play into the polarizing elements in America" right now.

"With tensions being so high here,I think stories like these can't be created in a vacuum," he told CBC News during an interview in Los Angeles.

"That's what makes this so relevant."

Chastain hasbeen open about her personal politics she was a vocalsupporter of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over the course of the election campaign.

Suddenly the film is throwing off all kind of reflections we hadn't necessarily anticipated- Miss Sloane director John Madden

The timing of the film's release has given Chastaina new perspectiveon what the filmsays about women in power.

"I realized it's also a film about gender politics and the role that we demand that women be. And I think it's important to challenge that role and challenge that status quo."

Madden says he expectedMiss Sloane to get some flak over the contentious gun control topic it tackles but that it has nowbeen brought "into the light" in the "most bizarre political circumstance that anybody could imagine."

"Suddenly the film is throwing off all kind of reflections we hadn't necessarily anticipated when we made it," said the Shakespeare in Love and Proof director.

"Butit seems very much in the zeitgeist because what it's sayingabout politics is what I think people are saying now."