Natalia Dyer Empowers Female Sexuality in New Film ‘Yes, God, Yes’

The world’s hankering for more Natalia Dyer has finally subsided with her return to the silver screen.

Known for seldomly posting to social media, keeping her fan base chomping at the bit for her next fashion statement photo, it is hard to keep tabs on actress Natalia Dyer.

Since the halting of tv and film productions everywhere due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world remains (im)patiently awaiting the fourth season of Netflix’s beloved sci-fi hit series Stranger Things. Dyer is most known for the breakout role as Nancy Wheeler in the series. Had the fourth season been released during its original anticipated date back in April, 2020, chances of seeing more of our favorite monster-slaying girl-next-door may have been higher. Luckily, to tide us off, Dyer had been busy on a new project that was freshly released July 24, 2020 called, Yes, God, Yes.

In this coming-of-age comedy written and directed by Karen Maine, Dyer plays 16-year-old Alice, a “good” Catholic girl discovering her sexuality. Dyer spilled the beans to Vanity Fair revealing how she personally related to her role as a naïve teenager exploring her sexuality. “I grew up in the South going to a religiously inclined school,” Dyer said.

God is always watching. #YesGodYes is now playing in virtual cinemas, on VOD and digital July 28. https://t.co/I5oAPi20oo pic.twitter.com/EFKXoODbke

— Yes, God, Yes (@yesgodyesfilm) July 24, 2020

“I remember the similar ways of how women’s sexuality, women’s bodies, were talked about, or not talked about. For me reading the script was really almost cathartic in a way, like, Oh, my gosh. Yes. I think that’s exactly the kind of stuff that I would want to see onscreen…We are so flooded with male-gazey versions of female sexuality. This female-oriented exploration is important.”

Although Dyer has been known for flying under the radar, she is not shy about empowering women. By taking a role that helps change the standard of female sexuality, Dyer has helped stand up for women’s sexual health.

In a 2018 interview regarding her being viewed as the “teenage girl in midst of a dramatic and identity-defining awakening” Dyer had a beautiful, relatable retort. “I read pretty young,” said Dyer, 20-year-old at the time, “so I often read for that coming-of-age 16/17-year-old who’s losing their virginity and discovering their sexuality, in a high school drama setting. I like that, because it is a very important, impactful, transformative and muddy time of life.”

Thank you for breaking societal norms by helping females get through a tricky stage in life by exploiting situations transparently, as opposed to covering it up.

If you are itching for me deets on this subject, you can bask in the humility and humor of Natalia Dyer’s latest role as Alice in Yes, God, Yes here.

Julia Rose Roulhac

Writer | Tweet me @juliaroulhac