Emerald goes for gold
As Crown star leads British charge at Globes, how partnership with Waller-Bridge was forged on set of little-known film 10 years ago
It may seem impossible to follow in the footsteps of Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
But Emerald Fennell is poised to repeat her close friend’s success at the Golden Globes tomorrow.
the British stars met a decade ago when they briefly appeared in a period drama and they instantly hit it off and became good friends.
Miss Fennell – who played Camilla Parker Bowles in the Crown and Patsy in Call the Midwife – is nominated for best director and best screenplay for the black comedy Promising Young Woman.
Should she win, it will be another British triumph after Miss Waller-Bridge claimed a Globe last year for best actress in the critically-acclaimed BBC series Fleabag, which she also wrote.
And there may be further glory for Miss Fennell as the Crown is up for best drama series tomorrow night.
Miss Waller-Bridge must have faith in her old friend’s talents as she handed script writing duties for the second series of Killing Eve to Miss Fennell, while the Fleabag star worked on the James Bond film No time to Die.
the talented pair – both 35 – met while filming Albert Nobbs, released in 2011 and starring Glenn Close as a woman who poses as a man to become a butler in 19th-century Dublin.
Miss Waller-Bridge had one line as Viscountess Yarrell, while Miss Fennell had a nonspeaking role as Mrs SmytheWillard. Before they met, the actresses were wary of one another according to Killing Eve producer Sally Woodward Gentle, who told the times: ‘they both saw each other’s name on the call sheet and thought, “they’re going to be horrible.” And then they met each other and fell in love.’
Born in 1985 to jeweller theo Fennell and author Louise Fennell, her talent was obvious as a pupil at Marlborough College, Kate Middleton’s old school. Miss Fennell’s drama teacher Nigel Bryant said: ‘Although it’s a bit embarrassing referring to A-level practical exams, she produced a performance so good that the examiner was blown away. they gave her an unheard-of 50 out of 50 and I remember saying, “I’d have paid to watch that”.’ Miss Fennell marked her tV debut in trial & Retribution and starred as Patsy Mount in Call the Midwife and Camilla in the Crown. She is now making history as it’s the first time three female directors have been nominated for a Golden Globe award, pictured left. She is also up for a writing award for the feminist revenge thriller Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan.
Miss Fennell will this year also try to match Miss WallerBridge’s stage success when the curtain lifts on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, which she has written.