Who’s that man?
Jodie reveals she’s in love
THIS WEEK, JODIE COMER turns 27, drawing to a close a year that has seen her reach incredible heights. In the past 12 months, she has won a BAFTA for her performance in the first series of Killing Eve, an Emmy for the second, been cast in two big-budget films and appeared on the cover of British Vogue. But, as she continues her global takeover, she has also found a more everyday thrill: new romance.
Speaking to Vogue, Jodie was asked about love. ‘I’m very much in it,’ she explained. ‘Love’s the best.’ The revelation marks a distinct change in interviews with the Liverpudlian actor. She does not identify her partner – other than to say it is a man – and has never shared more than fleeting details on exes, but says that she was not actively looking. ‘I’d been single for a while and just kind of going with the flow and doing my thing,’ she says. ‘That’s the thing, isn’t it? When you’re relaxed and letting the universe do what it’s doing, things kind of fall into place. Which is very much what happened.’
Details may be scarce, but Jodie’s decision to acknowledge a romance appears to suggest a new-found confidence. ‘No one could have expected the last couple of years that Jodie has had,’ says a source. ‘Least of all Jodie herself. It caught her by complete surprise and she put all of her time and energy into her work – into showing up, delivering every day and making good professional choices. This didn’t leave much time for dating.’
Occasionally, young stars on the rise are advised by their teams to avoid rushing into relationships, thanks to fears that a single fan photograph of a couple on a date, or resulting dramas, could eclipse their work. If that was a concern for Jodie, she can rest easy in the knowledge that the world is fully aware of her talent. Killing Eve’s third series debuts in the US this spring. Her first blockbuster – Free Guy, starring Ryan Reynolds – comes to cinemas in the summer, and she is currently in France filming The Last Duel with Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck. Only last month, Ben singled out Jodie’s participation in the film as a particular draw: ‘Jodie Comer’s in the movie,’ he told a reporter, ‘so that’s very exciting.’
Jodie has had occasional relationships over the years, and has referred to ‘one in particular while growing up, where I probably felt in love’. But she has also complained that her murderous TV persona may have got in the way of romance. ‘When I am introduced to men, sometimes they are a little bit hesitant and, yes, maybe they can be a bit frightened,’ she said last year. That concern has quite clearly dissipated.
‘Finding success and acclaim in the last year has given her the confidence to relax a bit, be open to new experiences and think about committing,’ the source says, adding that this stretches beyond romance. ‘Jodie is a selfconfessed homebody and her permanent base is still her parents’ home in Liverpool. But she knows that she’s going to have to put down roots elsewhere for work sooner rather than later.’
As Jodie explores the thrills of a new relationship and plans her next steps in life and work, there is sure to be uncertainty. But if her last 12 months are anything to go by, her 28th year may be her best yet.