Page 94 - Metropolis Magazine nº116i

DOPE GIRLS

Inspired by the journey of
several women in post- Soho, London, 1920. In a reality The series is inspired by the book
World War I London, marked by the trauma of the war, Dope Girls: The Birth of the Bri-
“Dope Girls” recovers the the return of husbands and the tish Drug Underground, by Marek
difficult trajectory of real redoubled difficulties of women, Kohn, published in 1992. It reco-
figures who reinvented we witness the popularity of ni- vers—albeit through fiction—the
themselves in the city's ghtclubs, drug dealing and the impressive experiences of Kate
nightlife scene. Based on female struggle for more power Meyrick (who became known as
historical facts, the BBC and independence. And someti- the "Night Club Queen"), Billie
series, which recently mes just survival. This is a pe- Carleton (an actress who didn't
premiered on Max, riod of great social change, whe- have a glamorous career), and
builds an independent re excess and hedonism contrast Edgar Manning (known as the
and engaging narrative, with repression and inequality, "dope king").
with the main focus on contributing to the expansion
the character played by of a vibrant, dangerous and se- On the small screen, the diffe-
Julianne Nicholson. ductive underworld, which also rences start with the surnames.
serves to rediscover gender roles They may be representations of
SARA QUELHAS and challenge the norms of the real people who made their mark
time. at the time, but at the same time,

94 METROPOLIS MARCH 2025