KATE HERRON

How to go from papier-mâché hammers to directing Thor’s brother

Is it fair to say that the last 18 months have changed your life, Kate?

Going from living in South-east London, in a flat with my bed next to my fridge, to being asked to lead a six-hour show for Marvel Studios turned my world upside down. I did this massive pitch full of story ideas, visual references and music. I figured, “Go big or go home.” I met Kevin Feige at Pinewood Studios and he was like, “You’ve got the job.” And a few days later I flew to New York and met Tom Hiddleston. We walked around and spoke about Loki for six hours. It’s been quite a whirlwind ride.

You’ve worked with Idris Elba and directed episodes of Sex Education prior to Loki. Have you always had the same ethos when pitching for those?

When I pitched on Five By Five, the Idris Elba project, I was temping for the NHS. I borrowed a friend’s ipad to look more professional for it. I put a lot of work into my visual references and focus on the story.

You worked for the NHS while directing?

I worked there for a long time in the Dental Institute. When I went to pitch on Sex Education,

I was working at a fire extinguisher company. Loki is probably the first pitch I’ve done where I was a proper freelance director. You’ve got to earn money while you’re trying to get your foot in the door.

You made a number of short films on your way up.

I thought, “I’m not going to wait for permission. I’m gonna work with what I have.” A producer I know said, “Make sure you really love what you’re working on. Because if you die when you’re making it, they’ll dedicate the film to you!” That’s something I’ve carried with me on everything since.

One of those shorts was a Ben Wheatley homage called Kill List: The Musical. Did Ben ever see it?

I think he has. His producer, Claire [Jones], sent me a very nice email when it came out. It was funny. I was living with my parents and I was making a giant papier-mâché hammer. Those poor people. They must have thought, “She’s chasing her dream, I guess!”

LOKI IS ON DISNEY+ NOW