Deadly fun: Killing Eve is back.
Killing Eve is now back on TVNZ OnDemand. Actress Jodie Comer talks to James Rampton about her role as the ruthlessly amoral assassin Villanelle.
Phenomenon is an overused word, but it really does apply to Killing Eve. The first two series of the dazzling British thriller have won many awards, including Emmys, Golden Globes and Baftas.
Now Killing Eve is back for a third season. To say it has been keenly anticipated would be a gross understatement. The show is a superb evocation of the cat-and-mouse game played by the dogged yet lovable intelligence officer Eve (Sandra Oh) and her quarry, the surprisingly funny and ruthlessly amoral assassin, Villanelle (Jodie Comer).
This season, which introduces new characters played by Dame Harriet Walter (Succession, The Crown) and Danny Sapani (Harlots, The Crown), carries on from the ridiculously tense cliffhanger with which series two closed. Then it appeared as if the spymaster Carolyn (Fiona Shaw) had betrayed her agent Eve, before Villanelle fired on Eve, leaving her for dead in Rome. Comer, 26, who has attracted critical plaudits across the globe for her performance as Villanelle, underscores just how taken aback she was by the way the first series of Killing Eve caught fire. “The reaction to season one was insane and unexpected,” she says. “We all believed in the show and were so passionate when making it, but you can never second guess how the audience is going to take it. “The response was enormous – there were some incredible Villanelle Halloween costumes and fan art. I’ve never been part of a show that’s had such an amazing reaction, so it’s been lovely. It’s really nice coming to season three knowing that there are people eagerly waiting for the continuation of the story.” The actress, who has also starred in Doctor Foster, Thirteen, The White
Princess and My Mad Fat Diary, goes on to outline what drew her to the character in the first place.
“Everything attracted me to Villanelle. I expected her to be one thing and she was the total opposite.
“I read ‘assassin’ and immediately thought of a sexy woman in a catsuit scaling walls in six-inch heels, but Villanelle felt more real than that. She has a sense of humour and makes mistakes, which are so relatable.
“Assassins can sometimes feel like creatures from another planet, like they’ve got super powers, whereas there’s something very earthy about Villanelle. That has continued through to season three.”
Comer expands on what makes Villanelle so appealing to viewers.
“I think the audience relate to Villanelle in ways that they may not want to. I always refer back to the opening sequence in season one, where she knocks the icecream over the little girl. I’m sure we’ve all wanted to do that before, but we never have.
“I think they admire her, and want to high-five her, but know she is not to be messed with.
“Her playfulness and childlike quality take away the terror at moments where we should really hate her. Often we sympathise or even agree with her, which makes her seem a bit like us.”
The actress articulates how Killing Eve, which was created for the small screen by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (also responsible for Fleabag), differs from the usual, more predictable drama about the world of spies and assassins.
“The show is different to any kind of typical spy or assassin show because of the voices behind the characters. What Phoebe Waller-Bridge did in setting up these characters is unique.
“There are two women leading the show which is also different. It’s not a man chasing a woman.
“We have two women who are equally fascinated and cautious of each other and that has broken a lot of stereotypes, particularly with Villanelle’s character.
“Killing Eve brings a freshness and energy to the screen that people haven’t seen before.”
The actress reflects on what she would like the audience to take away from Killing Eve.
“I want the audience to come away having had fun and having enjoyed it. Our show doesn’t have a huge message to the world and that’s probably why people enjoy it so much. They can escape through it and live through the characters, having fun with it along the way.”
Comer underlines just how much she has relished playing Villanelle.
“She’s so much fun to play. She gets away with murder – quite literally – but I love her.” Killing Eve is streaming now on TVNZ OnDemand.
“The reaction to season one was insane and unexpected.”
– Jodie Comer