Following the premiere of her new documentary, Rapinoe, at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, the former soccer star revealed to PEOPLE that she already has an actress in mind to portray her in a potential biopic.
When asked to name her dream casting choice, Rapinoe, 41, immediately offered one name: Tilda Swinton.
"Oh, Tilda Swinton," Rapinoe said. "That's the list. I feel like she's perfect."
Directed by Rebecca Huntt, Rapinoe will be distributed by HBO Documentary Films. The documentary follows the openly queer athlete during a deeply reflective period as she closes the chapter on her professional soccer career and looks back on her life and accomplishments.
Rapinoe said seeing the completed documentary at its TIFF premiere was an emotional experience, despite having lived through the events featured in the film.
"I obviously lived it, but that's much different than actually getting to sit back and enjoy it," she told PEOPLE. "I was really excited. I was feeling a little bit nervous, but more just antsy to see it."
The film also surprised her emotionally.
"It was a lot more emotional than I thought that it was going to be," she said, adding that she became choked up several times while watching it in the theater.
Rapinoe announced her retirement from professional soccer in July 2023 following that year's Women's World Cup. Her decorated career includes two FIFA Women's World Cup titles with the United States in 2015 and 2019, as well as an Olympic gold medal from the 2012 Games.
The documentary also explores Rapinoe's family and personal experiences. She described the portrayal as emotional but said Huntt wanted to make the story universal and connect with viewers on a deeper level.
Rapinoe also reflected on life after soccer. She said she was ready to leave the sport she loved and was good at, but acknowledged that retirement meant adjusting to an everyday life outside professional competition.
"You can only play for so long," she said. "So I'm actually really enjoying doing other things and trying to, I think, just try my hardest at life."
Rapinoe, who split from longtime fiancée Sue Bird in April, is now embracing what comes next.
The documentary Rapinoe is expected to premiere on HBO at a later date.
