In a lot of ways, "Ella McCay" is just how it’s marketed to be. It’s a heartfelt and funny family comedy about a young woman who suddenly becomes governor from the legendary James L. Brooks (who is known for making movies that are impossible not to cry at). But, there’s one character turn I absolutely didn’t see coming in the latest of 2025 movie releases. So, I brought it up to stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Mackey. Let’s get into it, and yes, SPOILERS are ahead!

In the second half of the movie, it becomes clearer and clearer to not only the audience but Ella that her husband pretty much sucks. Rather than supporting her in her big promotion as we expected he might, he demands that he have his own position alongside her. And when she doesn’t agree, he betrays her by playing the victim to the public with his own (and very untrue) version of a scandal they’d been trying to hide. Here’s how Mackey reacted to what happened between Ella and Ryan in our interview.