Portraying Billie Jean King exhausted Holly Hunter

Having never played sports growing up, Holly Hunter had to undergo a four-month training period with 1974 Wimbledon doubles champion Peggy Michel to portray Billie Jean King in the upcoming ABC film When Billie Beat Bobby, directed by out lesbian Jane Anderson (If These Walls Could Talk 2). Hunter says she was exhausted after the first month. “We haven’t seen too many women athletes portrayed on film,” Hunter said, “I thought, What a great opportunity to use my whole body.” Going through five days a week proved to be daunting for Hunter, but she says, “I kind of broke through that and started feeling I was in the best shape of my life. That was intoxicating—to feel capable.” When Billie Beat Bobby airs April 16 on ABC.