Life according to...

The actress talks lockdown, loving playing a killer and her life in front of the camera

Actress Jodie Comer

How has the coronavirus lockdown affected you?

I was shooting a film with Ridley Scott, which has now been put on hiatus.

As much as I’d want to be carrying on with that, I’ve been able to come home, unpack about seven suitcases, and I’ve thrown out so much rubbish.

To have a bit of stillness and be stationary - I’m a bit embarrassed to say I’m kind of enjoying it.

I think we’ve just got to take it day by day.

Does the new Killing Eve series provide more background to Villanelle’s story?

You definitely get a glimpse into a life that Villanelle could have possibly led.

The thing with Villanelle is, no matter what we explore regarding her past, she is the way she is because she is that type of person.

It was so important for me, and

for the producers and writers, that we’re never excusing Villanelle.

It’s never to sugar-coat or make things seem excusable.

Did returning to Romania to film for the first time since the debut series bring back memories?

The first time, nobody knew what Killing Eve was, and we all were having so much fun, and just enjoying it and living for the moment and not wanting to set expectations too high.

And it couldn’t have gone any better. Life has definitely changed since then.

What does playing Villanelle mean to you?

I love her, and I have so much fun playing her.

Maybe I shouldn’t be such a pessimist, but I think it would be very rare for a part like her to come along again, so I want to revel in it for as long as I can.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity.

What do you learn from working with respected female co-stars Dame Harriet Walter and Fiona Shaw?

There’s something about that generation of women.

They just have such an ease about them, and they’re not scared to laugh at themselves.

They see the absurdity in things, and I really respect that.

How do you cope with aspects of fame like magazine shoots?

I was kind of terrified of all that when I started. Now, I’m like, ‘Ah, OK’.

The more you surrender to it and have fun and not take yourself too seriously, the more enjoyable it can be.

You’ve just got to take it in your stride and not overthink it too much.

To have a bit of stillness – I’m kind of enjoying lockdown

Series three of Killing Eve is on BBC iPlayer from tomorrow. It will air on BBC 1 from Sunday, April 19