Kirby Howell-Baptiste

IS KNOCKING SPOTS OFF THE COMPETITION…

Londoner Howell-Baptiste stole focus as Elena in Killing Eve then got heavenly in The Good Place with Kristen Bell. Next month, the 34 year-old goes to the dogs with Emma Stone’s Cruella, before her first lead in star-studded comedy Queenpins. “Honestly,” she tells Teasers from the set of her latest movie in LA, “I’m just very excited about the year ahead. It’s a very good year for me.”

How does your character cross paths with

Cruella?

Anita is a journalist. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but they both have something they need from each other, so they develop this sort of mutual respect and mutual appreciation for how the other plays into each of their greater plans.

Would you say Cruella is a feminist movie?

It passes the Bechdel Test. That’s really

refreshing and exciting to be part of. I love that about it and a lot of the projects I gravitate towards. I can say this about Cruella and Killing Eve – for the longest time, we’ve been told or shown that women have to be likeable or women have to be perfect. I actually think that showing flaws and real-life things is much more interesting.

Did you keep any of your amazing costumes from the film?

I fancied taking so much of it!

Everything I wore was custom-made for me. I’ve never had clothing fit so well. But I didn’t, I was very good and very respectful!

Tell us about upcoming projects, and

Silent Night Queenpins…

Silent Night is a dark thriller, slightly dystopian – really exciting. Queenpins is my first lead role, with Kristen Bell, who I’ve worked with a couple of times, and we have such a great personal and professional relationship. That’s about two women that start a coupon scam. It’s based on a true story. They make millions of dollars, and a bunch of things happen off the back of that…

ETA | 28 MAY / CRUELLA IS OUT IN CINEMAS AND ON DISNEY+ NEXT MONTH.