Ruby Rose is most persuasive when a fight gives her something precise to do. Her supporting action roles make good use of her physical confidence and insolence; carrying a drama has proved a less comfortable fit.
Fi1m perspective
In John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), Ruby Rose’s Ares signs her taunts rather than speaking them. She is the mute bodyguard of Riccardo Scamarcio’s Santino, and that small distinction makes her worth watching among the hired killers. We grew tired of the repeated gunfights, but her signed insults were a welcome change. Rose is good at suggesting that a threat barely merits her concern, without needing a speech to establish it.
The short Break Free (2014), which Rose produced herself, helped secure her part in Orange Is the New Black (2015–2016). As Stella Carlin in Jenji Kohan’s series, she brought humour as well as seductive confidence. The subsequent run of supporting action parts included Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) and xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017). Those films made use of the physically capable, androgynous figure that became her regular casting.
Chad Stahelski’s direction makes John Wick: Chapter 2 a good fit for her particular strengths. The fights are staged with care and clarity, useful qualities for an actor whose work depends so much on physical confidence. The plot is a chain of errands, though, and eventually the carefully organised violence becomes routine. Rose gives the villains some variety; she cannot do much about how long the fighting goes on.
In The Meg (2018), Rose plays Jaxx alongside Jason Statham, but we would not recommend starting there. Statham is agreeable company and the shark provides some tense encounters. Too much of the evening goes on flat dialogue and unconvincing drama, and Rose’s place in the ensemble is no reason to overlook that.
The move to the lead as Kate Kane in the first series of Batwoman (2019–2020) asked more of her. Physical assurance was no longer enough, and the dramatic acting was less persuasive than the action. Stella’s humour suggests there are other ways to use her than another fight-heavy assignment. We would welcome a script that lets Rose be funny again.
Biography
Ruby Rose, born Ruby Rose Langenheim, is an Australian actor. She first gained prominence in Australia as a presenter on MTV Australia from 2007, later co-hosting shows including Australia's Next Top Model and The Project.
Rose began acting in 2008. Her early roles include the Australian film Around the Block (2013). She achieved wider recognition for her portrayal of Stella Carlin in seasons three and four of the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black (2015–2016).
She has appeared in films such as xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) as Ares, Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), The Meg (2018) and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016). On television she played Kate Kane / Batwoman in the Arrowverse series Arrow (2018), Supergirl (2018–2020), The Flash (2018–2019), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2018–2020) and Batwoman (2019–2020).
