Martha Stewart Hates That She Looks Like 'a Lonely Old Lady' in New Netflix Doc: 'It Was Just Shocking'

Mar. 15, 2025

Martha Stewart in ‘Martha’.Photo:Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

Martha Stewartshared a blunt review of her new Netflix documentary.In an interview with theNew York Timespublished Wednesday, Oct. 30, the lifestyle mogul, 83, criticized various aspects of R.J. Cutler’s new filmMartha,which was released the same day.One of Stewart’s complaints was that the filmmaker “used very little” material from her archive when telling the story of her life, despite having  had “total access.”“It was justshocking,” she said.Stewart also took issue with her portrayal in the documentary, particularly footage Cutler used of her at her Bedford, N.Y. estate toward the end of the film.Martha Stewart in ‘Martha’.Courtesy of Netflix“Those last scenes with me looking like a lonely old lady walking hunched over in the garden? Boy, I told him to get rid of those,” Stewart said. “And he refused. Ihatethose last scenes.”Stewart explained that she was “limping a little” in the scenes after rupturing her Achilles tendon, but would’ve liked the film to show that she could “live through that and still work seven days a week.”Stewart’s other gripes include the film’s “lousy” classical score (she says she requested rap music) and camera angles.“He had three cameras on me,” Stewart said. “And he chooses to use the ugliest angle. And I told him, ‘Don’t use that angle! That’s not the nicest angle. You had three cameras. Use the other angle.’ He would not change that.”Martha Stewart at the premiere of ‘Martha’.Getty ImagesStewart thinks Cutler should’ve devoted less time to her “extremely boring” 2004 trial and federal prison sentence after she was found guilty on charges including conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the sale of a stock.“It was not that important,” she said. “The trial and the actual incarceration was less than two years out of an 83-year life. I considered it a vacation, to tell you the truth.”Cutler defended the documentary, telling theNew York Times,“I am really proud of this film, and I admire Martha’s courage in entrusting me to make it.“He said he wasn’t “surprised that it’s hard for her to see aspects of it.”“It’s a movie, not a Wikipedia page,” he continued. “It’s the story of an incredibly interesting human being who is complicated and visionary and brilliant.”Stewart also said she wishes the film had featured her love of travel (“My trip up Kilimanjaro wasn’t mentioned!”) and further highlighted the accomplishments of her eponymous magazine,Martha Stewart Living,which was published from 1990 to 2022.Jane Cha Cutler, R. J. Cutler, Martha Stewart, Trevor Smith and Alina Cho attend Netflix’s ‘Martha’ premiere.Arturo Holmes/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.When speaking with PEOPLE exclusively at the New York premiere ofMarthaon Oct. 21, the culinary icon said the film was missing “all the creativity in the publishing world and the media world, all of that is not really included in this film.”Cutler told PEOPLE at the premiere, “It’s a remarkable story about a remarkable woman who has defined the world in which we live, and the story’s got ups and downs and twists and turns and all sorts of the best kind of movie-making drama you would hope for.”“It’s a life that really defies being made into a movie, even as I’d like to say that if ever a life story deserves the big screen treatment, it is Martha Stewart’s life story, and we’ve made that movie,” he added. “This is a movie about American womanhood, and it’s a movie about one of the most extraordinary American women who ever lived.”

Martha Stewartshared a blunt review of her new Netflix documentary.

In an interview with theNew York Timespublished Wednesday, Oct. 30, the lifestyle mogul, 83, criticized various aspects of R.J. Cutler’s new filmMartha,which was released the same day.

One of Stewart’s complaints was that the filmmaker “used very little” material from her archive when telling the story of her life, despite having  had “total access.”

“It was justshocking,” she said.

Stewart also took issue with her portrayal in the documentary, particularly footage Cutler used of her at her Bedford, N.Y. estate toward the end of the film.

Martha Stewart in ‘Martha’.Courtesy of Netflix

“Those last scenes with me looking like a lonely old lady walking hunched over in the garden? Boy, I told him to get rid of those,” Stewart said. “And he refused. Ihatethose last scenes.”

Stewart explained that she was “limping a little” in the scenes after rupturing her Achilles tendon, but would’ve liked the film to show that she could “live through that and still work seven days a week.”

Stewart’s other gripes include the film’s “lousy” classical score (she says she requested rap music) and camera angles.

“He had three cameras on me,” Stewart said. “And he chooses to use the ugliest angle. And I told him, ‘Don’t use that angle! That’s not the nicest angle. You had three cameras. Use the other angle.’ He would not change that.”

Martha Stewart at the premiere of ‘Martha’.Getty Images

Getty Images

Stewart thinks Cutler should’ve devoted less time to her “extremely boring” 2004 trial and federal prison sentence after she was found guilty on charges including conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the sale of a stock.

“It was not that important,” she said. “The trial and the actual incarceration was less than two years out of an 83-year life. I considered it a vacation, to tell you the truth.”

Cutler defended the documentary, telling theNew York Times,“I am really proud of this film, and I admire Martha’s courage in entrusting me to make it.”

He said he wasn’t “surprised that it’s hard for her to see aspects of it.”

“It’s a movie, not a Wikipedia page,” he continued. “It’s the story of an incredibly interesting human being who is complicated and visionary and brilliant.”

Stewart also said she wishes the film had featured her love of travel (“My trip up Kilimanjaro wasn’t mentioned!”) and further highlighted the accomplishments of her eponymous magazine,Martha Stewart Living,which was published from 1990 to 2022.

Jane Cha Cutler, R. J. Cutler, Martha Stewart, Trevor Smith and Alina Cho attend Netflix’s ‘Martha’ premiere.Arturo Holmes/Getty

Arturo Holmes/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

When speaking with PEOPLE exclusively at the New York premiere ofMarthaon Oct. 21, the culinary icon said the film was missing “all the creativity in the publishing world and the media world, all of that is not really included in this film.”

Cutler told PEOPLE at the premiere, “It’s a remarkable story about a remarkable woman who has defined the world in which we live, and the story’s got ups and downs and twists and turns and all sorts of the best kind of movie-making drama you would hope for.”

“It’s a life that really defies being made into a movie, even as I’d like to say that if ever a life story deserves the big screen treatment, it is Martha Stewart’s life story, and we’ve made that movie,” he added. “This is a movie about American womanhood, and it’s a movie about one of the most extraordinary American women who ever lived.”

source: people.com