Actors Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are speaking out in defense of May December after the film was criticized by Vili Fualaau , the loose inspiration for one of its characters.

On the red carpet at Sundays Golden Globes , Portman told Entertainment Tonight that, despite Fualaau and ex-wife Mary Kay Letourneaus contentious relationship influencing May December, the film is its own story.

Its not based on them, its, you know, obviously their story influenced the culture that we all grew up in and influenced the idea, Portman said. But its fictional characters that are really brought to life by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton so beautifully, and yeah, its its own story, its not meant to be a biopic.

Moore, who also spoke with ET, offered a similar response.

[Director Todd Haynes ] was always very clear when we were working on this movie that this was an original story, this was a story about these characters, she said. So thats how we looked at it, too. This was our document, we created these characters from the page and together.

Moore, Portman and Charles Melton whose character is loosely based on Fualaau received Golden Globe nominations for their performances in May December. The film hit Netflix last month after a theatrical release in November.