Frances Haugen, who left Facebook in 2021 and became a whistleblower exposing the company's inner workings, tells PEOPLE about the new biopic The Social Reckoning
Haugen praises Mikey Madison's portrayal of her and writer-director Aaron Sorkin's dedication to sharing her story
But Haugen's mother, she quips, "was very upset" that they cast a brunette when Haugen is actually blonde
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is weighing in on Mikey Madison's depiction of her in The Social Reckoning.
The new biopic from writer-director Aaron Sorkin (in theaters now) is based in part on The Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz's The Facebook Files, a series featuring leaks provided by Haugen, 42, in 2021. After working as a data scientist and engineer at Mark Zuckerberg's platform for years, she became a whistleblower, sharing tens of thousands of internal documents suggesting that Facebook prioritized engagement over protecting users.
"It was incredibly flattering that such a qualified actor would be interested in my story," Haugen tells PEOPLE of Madison's casting. The breakout star, 27, accepted the role from Sorkin, 65, a few months after her 2024 movie Anora earned her the Best Actress Oscar.
"I really, really respect cinema as an art form and its capabilities to inspire people and help people connect," says Haugen. "I know enough to really respect how hard it is to make a movie. I trust Aaron. I trust the process."
But, she adds with a laugh, "My mother was very...
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