The ECHO's Ryan Paton came face to face with Jodie Comer earlier this month, when the outlet was one of the selected media granted an interview with the Childwall-born star. Since her breakout role as Villanelle in Killing Eve, Comer has become one of the industry's most in-demand talents, working with filmmakers such as Danny Boyle and Sir Ridley Scott, and sharing the screen with Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Paton had previously spoken to Comer over the phone ahead of the release of 28 Years Later last summer. This time, however, the interview was conducted in person, ahead of the release of The Death of Robin Hood. The meeting took place in a five-star hotel in central London, as part of a typical press junket granting 10 minutes to discuss the film. The film reimagines Robin Hood as a violent outlaw, rather than a working-class hero who stole from the rich to give to the poor.
A grounded star in a five-star setting
Comer, an Evertonian, immersed herself in transforming into Sister Brigid for the film. The ECHO was keen to hear about her process for getting into character and what drew her to the role, as well as how her upbringing in L16 gave her the tools to conquer Hollywood.
After a short wait, Paton met Comer at the very specific time of 13.39. Walking into the room and being greeted by a face familiar from TV was a slightly surreal experience, he said. However, Comer's personable qualities immediately shone through, disarming even the most nervous of individuals. Before the cameras started rolling, the two launched into a conversation about the perils of travelling down to London on the West Coast Main Line.
Liverpool pride and humility
Despite wearing a Givenchy shirt, Comer's conversation was no different from when she worked behind the checkouts at the Tesco in Woolton before she shot to fame. The official interview began with how proud Comer is to represent Liverpool on the grandest stage. The actor admitted she never imagined TV would be a job when she was performing in local drama classes as a kid. Fellow Scouser Stephen Graham put her in touch with an agent, and her talent did the rest.
Comer told the ECHO: "[In Liverpool] We have such a strong sense of who we are and a belief in ourselves, but with such a lack of ego and with a lot of humility. It's something I really admire in the people that I meet from home and there is an inherent warmth and sense of support, so I feel like that's how it's shaped me."
Despite the 10-minute interview being about a Hollywood film, Comer was just as comfortable discussing the refurbishment of Ye Cracke as she was about embracing medieval healthcare as part of her preparation for her character. In the final segment, when asked to construct her Scouse Rushmore – naming four faces who best represent the city – Comer reserved a place for her late nan Frances, to whom she dedicated her BAFTA win in 2019. Also on her sculpture were fellow South Liverpool icon George Harrison, her St Julie's schoolmate Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and Stephen Graham, the man who set her on her path to fame.
Roots remain the same
One might expect a Hollywood star branded an "It Girl" by Vogue to have diva qualities, but being in Comer's company shows she is anything but. The actor credits her Scouse roots with her ability to remain grounded, saying: "I feel like we're so connected to our roots that you do a film like this and people say, 'You must be living this life, what's it like?' But the foundation is still the same and the people in my life are still the same. My priorities, and what I connect to, are still very much the same."
Paton's conversation with Comer covered Liverpool pubs, Everton's wait for a trophy and train delays. It proved what he hoped about Comer as she continues to fly the flag for Scousers across the globe. You can take the girl out of Liverpool, but you can't take the Liverpool out of the girl. The full interview is available on the ECHO's YouTube channel.
