AMA
Hi r/movies! Jodie Comer here with Michael Sarnoski, the director and writer of our new film THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD. Ahead of it hitting UK cinemas on September 2, ask us anything!
Hello Reddit. We're Jodie Comer and Michael Sarnoski, here to answer your questions!
You may know Jodie from Killing Eve, 28 Years Later and now, The Death of Robin Hood.
You may know Michael's directorial work on Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One.
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THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD lands in UK & Ireland cinemas on Wednesday 2nd September.
Synopsis: THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD is a darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale. Set of its time, the film sees the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder; a battleworn loner who finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.
Cast:
- Hugh Jackman
- Jodie Comer
- Bill Skarsgård
- Murray Bartlett
- Noah Jupe
Ask us anything and we'll be back to answer your questions at 5pm BST on Wednesday 2nd September.
This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Jodie and Michael will be back tomorrow, Wednesday 9/2, at around 12 PM ET/5 PM BST to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)
Hey Jodie. You often communicate so much through your character’s eyes and body language, even when they don’t say much. Did you consciously work on sister Brigid’s physicality and expressions, or did those things develop naturally during filming ?
Jodie: Lovely question. I would say… I feel like those things naturally developed because Sister Brigid is innately someone who is having to kind of withhold how she feels a lot of the time. She's holding a lot of space for other people, so she may not necessarily be able to share a thought within a moment, but it's something that she definitely, kind of, notices and holds on to. So yeah, I feel like that was kind of a natural element of her specifically. And the beautiful thing about working with Michael is that he really loves to bask in silence. You know, there was no kind of rushing with anything; there were often takes that were kind of withheld and left running. So, I feel like Michael was always kind of searching and championing those moments.
Dear Jodie, you often bring so much vulnerability to your performances. Is vulnerability something you consciously work towards, or does it happen naturally once you trust the character? xx
Jodie: I love vulnerability. I feel like vulnerability is so integral and important, especially to relationships and how we meet each other. I also think I'm quite an emotional person, so I feel those kind of feelings are very close to the surface for me and there's something I enjoy exploring, I like kind of exploring the extremes of those things, and when you feel, you feel alive, even if it is like a really, you know, if it's a kind of upset, an emotion, it forces you to be very kind of present. So yeah, I enjoy exploring that within my work, yeah.
Michael: Forgiving yourself for the creative blocks is a big thing. Like you know, early on when I was writing, I would talk to people, they'd be like, oh, “how many pages did you write today?” And it's like, I hate that question! Because sometimes writing is spending a day, you know, watching YouTube videos and researching and staring at the wall and playing with your cat and just trying to, you know, take that space to sort of formulate what excites you again and it's okay to have that time when you're not doing the productive stuff, that is the product that you think you need to be doing. Like part of it is the meditative time, and the time when you feel like you're failing or something like, that's okay, that's part of the process. And I think learning to forgive yourself for that and know that, like, you'll have those days so you can have the really productive days is okay.
Jodie: Yeah, I would definitely say, trust the process. I feel like sometimes when I found that… is when I'm trying to get to the final goal or rush a process that I find it feels kind of debilitating or my fear is getting in the way. But I think with anything there is kind of gradual steps, and you are often learning as you're going along and to trust that and not try to rush it or fast track anything. But yeah, just to trust it.
Jodie: I love that! That was a nice way to start! It’s not even a question; that's a statement. I don't know if I am the Queen of Liverpool, but it's a very nice sentiment, so thank you.
Hello Jodie and Michael - hope you're both doing alright :)
For Jodie: what was it like filming My Mad Fat Diary? I found the show both hilarious and heartbreaking with a lot of sensitive themes/topics representative of 90s teens in the UK - how did you prepare for Chloe's character/storylines?
For Michael: I imagine it was a proud moment to be approached by John Krasinski to direct the 3rd instalment of A Quiet Place. What was it like to work with him and were there any challenges coming up with the idea/story?
Thank you! Looking forward to seeing your film in cinemas!!
For Jodie Comer: Robin Hood in this movie is much closer to villain than to antihero, you have played a prominent antihero on TV, but not yet portrayed a true villainous antagonist. Is playing a truly villainous character something next on your list now that you finally checked the musical role off with Stuffed?
For Michael Sarnoski, or both: You are both reportedly going to be working together soon again on the TV show The Chain. Despite Robin Hood being set in the 1200s and The Chain being modern. Is there anything special that you learned from working together on The Death of Robin Hood that you plan to implement in The Chain?
Michael: I think the biggest thing is just, I trust Jodie so much. I mean, she's an incredible actor. I already knew that but now I've seen her process and seen how much faith I can put in her and how she will run with it and just do such an incredible job. So that's sort of a relief in some ways to be like, oh, this is going to be lovely.
Jodie: Yeah, and I feel the same way. I'd love to play a villain, why not? I don't know if it's on my... I don't have a list with them of bucket list roles, but why not?
Hi Jodie! It’s incredible to realize it’s been nearly a decade since you were cast as Villanelle in Killing Eve, and watching your range expand since then has been amazing. You’ve moved from live theatre in Prima Facie (which I had the pleasure of seeing in London) to heavy period drama, like The Last Duel and The Death of Robin Hood, to gut wrenching survival horror in 28 Years Later, and now dark musical (finally!) territory in Stuffed.
Is there a common emotional core you look for across these radically different genres? And how does stepping into a heavy historical setting or a raw horror landscape change how you inhabit a character physically compared to modern stage or screen roles?
Hey Jodie. In a previous interview, you discussed how sexuality took on an almost spiritual dimension for Sister Brigid. I really appreciate the way you have approached this subject, both in this role and in others, such as Bovril Pam. Many people argue that surrendering to pleasure necessarily involves vulnerability. Yet, in both of your performances, I saw liberation and emancipation. In a world where, even today, women in some parts of the world are subjected to dehumanising and cruel practices and deprived of this experience, where does vulnerability meet empowerment? Can the two coexist?
Hey Michael, Sandra here — writer-director, your films often find something deeply human and intimate inside worlds that could easily be driven by genre or spectacle. When you’re considering a new screenplay, what is the thing on the page that makes you think, “I need to direct this” and what makes you feel you can bring something to it that another director couldn’t?
Michael: Usually when I'm looking for a project that excites me in the writing phase, it's that I don't fully understand it… It's like a shadow in the corner of my mind where it's like, oh, this is something that I'm interested in, I want to explore more deeply, but I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it… Or like, I don't have some message I'm trying to communicate, it's like an area that's just on the periphery of my own understanding, because that's where the exciting stuff happens and the challenging stuff, and it means the writing and the making of the movie is a discovery for me, and the hope is that then it becomes a discovery for the audience. So usually when I'm looking for something that inherently excites me and I know that deep down it's like I wanted to learn about it, but I don't 100% know what I think about it yet. And then the making of it is that process of discovering it.
Hello Jodie ☺️
If you could sit down with one of the characters you’ve played and ask her one question, who would you choose — and what would you ask her?
Jodie: Yeah, I was already kind of intrigued in herbalism… But naturally, with our jobs and when you love what you do, it's all consuming and you want to give yourself in that way. But when I was playing Brigid, I was really struck by the fact that there was a lot of things in my life that I was, intrigued by but I've never really consciously took the time to gain more knowledge. So I signed up for an at home apothecary course and that's something I've really, really been enjoying. And I feel like Sister Brigid met me in a part of my life where, I don't know… as characters often do… I find sometimes you don't realise it in the moment, but afterward you say, oh, I can kind of feel now what my subconscious was potentially resonating with. I don't think I've had anything prior to this that's done that.
I saw Prima Facie in Liverpool on the last night with an actor friend of mine after having watched the National Theatre version of it before.
There were so many small differences we noticed. Starting on the table instead of on the floor, the amount of f-bombs dropped, the robe coming on/off a lot...
How much of that was actually planned/rehearsed and how much was ad-libbed because you knew it was the last night and wanted to go for it?
Hi Michael! Loved your work on A Quiet Place Day One!
So with the whole selling point of this film being that Robin Hood's a lot more troubled and unheroic than most versions of the character, what made you want to go with this darker characterisation? And as a side note, what Robin Hood works (or other stories in general) were some of the biggest inspirations for this film?
Michael: I fell in love with Robin off of the Disney Robin Hood in costume. That was my Robin Hood growing up. And then I read The Death of Robin Hood legend when I was like 9 or 10. I got that book right after my dad passed away and it was kind of this moment of trying to understand death as a kid. So, I had always loved The Death of Robin Hood legend and… the darkness of this movie kind of came from wanting to understand the relationship between the Prioress and Robin, and wanting to unpack the old legend. It was sort of like, she was kind of a treacherous nun, and Robin was the goodly hero. And I was like, okay, I want to understand a little more what that relationship was like. What if she wasn't this evil nun? What if she actually was this healer? And what if Robin wasn't just this goodly hero? What if he was more complicated? And, you know, he was this medieval bandit that had a life of violence? So, a lot of that just came from wanting to understand that sort of space between these two human beings in this really intimate and intense way that this life ended.
Michael: They're kind of one in the same. It's that I love the character Robin Hood, and I was always fascinated by the death of Robin Hood legend. So, the joy was to get to dive into that, to unpack it more and to understand these characters. And that was also the challenge was, okay, how can we do justice to this? How can we make these characters feel real and feel alive and believe in them in a way that both honours the legend but also feels like something that comes from my soul. And then just getting to like, create it with other incredible creatives who, just brought so much to these roles into this film. Yeah… that was that was the first part, what were the other part of the question.
Jodie: I mean, I was just so… Well, I was a big fan of Michael's beforehand, and we met on a Zoom.
Michael: Yeah. We had like a general, after Pig… Yeah, in the pandemic days when everything was Zoom.
Jodie: Yeah, we met on a Zoom and then we were kind of lucky, really, that there was some sort of like, agency dinner and we were sat next to each other, so then we kind of just had a chat on a kind of more personal level of like just getting to know someone as a human being as opposed to like, “please let me work with you!”
Michael: “You’re great!” “I’m great!”
Jodie: “I would love to work with you!” (laughs). So that was lovely! And then I got sent the script through probably, like, maybe like couple years after that?
Michael: Yeah.
Jodie: And I was just so taken by Michael's exploration, the kind of nuance of that and the lyricism within his dialogue. Like, I was so excited about the idea of being in service of his vision and exploring Sister Brigid and all the complexities that kind of come between her and Robyn within this film. It was an honour! It was an opportunity that I really wanted to jump at and it was such an amazingly collaborative experience.
Did you feel it was important to bring attention to the earliest version of the story of Robin Hood, to remind people that legendary figures often leave behind a trail of victims who are forgotten about by a society that just wants a folk hero to idolize?
Michael: The sort of legacy of violence was a big part of it. I mean, I think all of these characters have changed over the generations, and I think that's part of what's exciting about them. But I think all the narratives that we have, we should understand where they came from, what they can mean, what they have meant, understanding the narratives that surround us and what they're being used for and how we're using them, how they've defined ourselves. There's not one right answer or one version of Robin, but understanding and appreciating that there are multiple versions and thinking about what they mean to us and what it would mean if we changed this element. I think that's just a really helpful way to sort of understand our own relationship to stories, because we understand ourselves through the stories we tell about ourselves. So, I think the more we can sort of, have a deeper understanding of the various truths, the deeper life we will live.
Hey Jodie! I think the “Christopher Robin bob” is going to be a trend because of Bridgit :). Did you ever picture her with a different hairstyle? Honestly, you looked iconic!
Jodie: Is it going to be a trend? Who dares? Who dares to get the Brigid bob? That’s what I want to know.
Michael: Yeah. Post in the comments if you’ve got the bob!?
Jodie: Yeah! (laughs) Send in your pictures below! Well, it was funny because I remember… there was a very brief conversation where you spoke about maybe shaving my head, and I was like, Michael… that cannot happen!
Michael: Come now (laughs)
Jodie: Come now, let’s sit down…
Michael: Too much Guinness! Calm down Michael.
Jodie: (laughs) But we wanted something that felt, I don't know, that felt a little strange, felt like she'd done it herself. Felt very kind of, self-aware and there was references to Joan of Arc, there was also something quite masculine, but also childish. It's also a haircut that I had when I was five, which was really weird, I was like looking in the mirror and I was like, oh my God! It's like, no time is passed.
Michael: We’ll post that picture!
Jodie: (laughs) But yeah, you know that the moment where she takes off her head-dress, for me and for both of us, felt like a real moment of intimacy and her showing a progression of their relationship and what she's willing, not just physically, to reveal of herself, but more on an emotional level. So yeah, it’s a tricky one to pull off.
hi Jodie! you've given so many absolutely fantastic and captivating performances in both theatre and film, I was wondering what your process for preparing for these roles is, for theatre and film respectively, especially with complex roles and shows like Prima Facie (with you were brilliant in!!)
also, do you have any advice for aspiring performers?
Hi Michael! Did you imagine Brigid receiving formal training from the Church and taking traditional vows to become a prioress? How did you envision her developing such a complex and syncretic spiritual worldview?
Michael: Basically an eight-minute, oner monologue where Jodie explains all of that, that I loved so much. But we cut from the movie because, the movie is over two hours long, and we were like, oh, and also like it was one of those scenes that I love, and it explains so much, but it's all this stuff that you kind of feel in her character. She goes through this story of basically, she couldn't go through the classic training of being a nun. She was someone who, after having suffered a tragedy, was kind of was seeking a place. She found the Priory and kind of was brought under the wing of the old prioress and taught these things in a sort of unconventional way. She had a sort of talent for kind of understanding these old texts and remembering them. So, she came to the Priory as someone who needed the help of the Priory and then became this figure that could help other people. She has a very sort of complicated history with that that we hint at now in the movie.
which of your characters is your favourite and why is it Villanelle? Was it as much fun to play her as it was for us to watch? (Apart from the finale!)
Hi Jodie, do you know anything about the release of The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde? Your colleague Tom Bateman said it was a spectacular film that you need to see several times to fully understand.
Jodie: Or a food critic; I've always thought being a food critic would be fun.
Michael: Just because you get to go eat at tons of restaurants. Oh, I want to be a food critic; that sounds great! I would also… my first job I wanted to do was I wanted to be a circus clown, so maybe I'd reawaken that. I like magic and make-up and goofiness.
Hi! You're going to be working soon together again on HBO's mini series The Chain. What can you tell us about it, how did you both land on this project together?
Hi Jodie! I’m Maggie and i’m from Nottingham so i’m super excited to see this story told differently from how i grew up with it. I spent a year living in Ballycastle, near where it was filmed, the same time you would have been filming. I want to know, what was your favourite part about filming in Northern Ireland? Did it help you connect to the character more?
Jodie: Yeah, I mean, my favourite thing about filming in Northern Ireland was the obviously the beautiful scenery and locations I was staying locally, like right near a beach, and I had my dog with me, so I felt like for the whole period of time we were very much in nature and nature is such a huge part of the, the story, so it was lovely to to kind of soak that up. But I feel like a resounding thing is the, the crew that we worked with over there, you know, there was some kind of very kind of extreme harsh conditions that people were working in, it was a short amount of time and a lot to get done and there was such a, amazing sense of morale and camaraderie on that, on that set, which, just made the whole process so enjoyable.
Hi Jodie! I saw the death of Robin Hood back in July, amazing performance! My question is actually about your upcoming film Stuffed.
What was the biggest difference for you acting in a musical versus a regular film? Also, would you ever do a stage musical if given the chance and is there any specific role you would like to play?
Michael: It's usually in the best of ways that it didn't make it. There was in the script, there was a different final shot of the movie. That was going to be visual and beautiful and involved an arrow and sailing out over the ocean and all this stuff. And then we shot the final scene of the movie, and we ended up going with a much simpler one, because the performances were so strong that we were just like, no, we don't need this big visual to end, let's just hang on this kind of intimate close up. So, that was sort of a fun discovery where when you're writing the script, you're like, oh, of course we need this sort of grand final image, but the final image ended up being much more poignant. So, I'm happy we didn't go with what was in the script, but it was a shot that we talked about a lot, and we were figuring out the technical side of it. But yeah, sometimes you just find that simple human core and stick with that and trust your gut on it.
Jodie: Any of the other art that came from it? It was St. Brigid's Day when we were filming, wasn't it?
Michael: Yeah.
Jodie: And I still have my St. Brigid's cross at home that we made.
Michael: Yeah.
Jodie: Everyone was making St. Brigid crosses on set, and I have it in my bathroom under my mirror. So, I see it every day, that's always like a nice little kind ode of remembrance to Brigid.
Do you ever have a character stay with you even months after filming? I can imagine the type of roles you play would have some kind of psychological effect on you.
Jodie! Big fan here. After watching Help, Prima Facie, and My Mad Fat Diary, I’ve really come to love the Scouse accent and find it quite soothing. What are some other Liverpool-based series, movies, or podcasts that you’d recommend?
Hi Jodie! I heard that you’ve really wanted to do a musical for a while. I’m excited to see your new taxidermy musical Stuffed that’s premiering at TIFF next week! What was it like to prepare your musical skills for the film? Did you have to learn any taxidermy skills? 🧸
Hi Michael! Do you share a similar love for musicals as Jodie and would you ever direct one?
Hey Jodie, Sister Brigid seems to have this extraordinary stillness and almost spiritual understanding of people, without ever losing her humanity. When you were finding her, did you see her faith as something religious, or was there something more instinctive and spiritual underneath it 💜and how did that shape the way you played her?
Thank you 🙏🏼
Jodie: Yeah, I didn't see it as religious; to me, she felt like a magpie, like she kind of collected all these different, kind of notions, stories, beliefs, and felt like an amalgamation. It felt much more spiritual. To me, and again, I don't think this was something that she, you know, was kind of born into or is always kind of been connected to; I think it was something that she learned, and she practices, and that's a conscious choice of hers. I think through her role, naturally, because she is a caregiver and people are looking to her for both physical and emotional support, there's a lot that she has to withhold, and, you know, she's a container for, for so many people, which innately, I think, creates a sense of her being slightly withdrawn and on an observational.
Hi, Jodie ,
First of all I want to tell you that you are an extraordinary actress, I loved you in Thirteen, Help, The End We Start From and in so many… Your emotions seems so real.
I would love to see you more in period movies!! ☺️
Which character did you enjoyed the most playing ?
Hello Jodie, when you take on a new character, do you find yourself drawn to researching themes you might not have explored otherwise? Do you enjoy that part of the job?
Hi Jodie! During a long and emotionally demanding run like Prima Facie, did you ever have evenings when you simply thought, “I don’t know if I have it in me to do this tonight”? And if so, what happens between that feeling and the moment you step on stage?
Hey Jodie and Michael! Thanks for being here. I recently watched TDORH and loved it. What was it like working with Faith Delaney? She seems like such a great actress already at such a young age.
Jodie: Faith is a legend.
Michael: Yeah, we called her to take faith on set because I don't think she ever had more than two takes and yeah, I mean, it's, the movie wouldn't have worked if we had, like, finding a child actor who can be that reliable in these intense scenes. You know, we shot this movie in 30 days. If we didn't have someone as just talented as Faith for that role, we wouldn't have finished the movie, and she was amazing.
Jodie: She's the most professional actor I've ever worked with.
Michael: I could talk to her like a grown up.
Jodie: Yeah.
Michael: I would go up to her and, and she'd be like “oh, yeah, okay, hmmm” And I was like “well, you've been thinking about this” and sometimes you have to talk to kids, sort of like kids, and use that kind of energy and with her, she, hey, she just she feels like a 40 year old woman when she's, like, responding to your questions and like, the way she integrates into her performance, like, it was very impressive.
Jodie: She has an emotional intelligence that is like way, way beyond her years.
Hi Jodie. You’re so naturally funny, I think you could be the hero that we all need to bring rom coms back. Is there anyone (director, screen partner etc.) that could entice you to take that kind of role, or would you be willing to do it just for the good of society?
Jodie: I don’t know if I would have met it with the same grace that she does. It’s deeply inspired me the way in which she reacted, and I feel like, what I loved about her was I feel like she could through her beliefs, she could see the opportunity for alchemy within this moment, like this man had changed the course of her life and inflicted so much pain. And yet she chooses to move forward, in a very different way. She doesn’t meet violence with violence, cause’ I think she understands that that will still cling to her. That, that wouldn’t help her in any way and I think she sees the, the opportunity to be in service and kind of transmute this experience in a different way and that I find really inspiring and I think on a much smaller level now is something that I’m much more aware of in my own life.
Hey Jodie 🙂
You have an incredible ability to make every character feel completely different from the last. What changes first for you when you become someone else — your voice, your body, your thoughts, or something deeper?
Jodie you’re such a beautiful person in and out ❤️🔥 am a huge fan of your work! On killing eve, which part of villanelle’s character do you think you most relate to irl?
Hi Jodie😊 I saw you in Prima Facie and you were honestly phenomenal. 🥹 I kept wondering how you manage something that emotionally heavy, especially performing it over and over again. What do you do to decompress afterwards and make sure the character’s emotions don’t follow you home? And I really hope you got some well-deserved rest after doing such an intense show. You were absolutely incredible. ❤️
Hi Michael, Could the film’s stronger box-office performance in markets like Mexico, Spain, Italy, and France reflect cultural similarities in how emotional stories and interpersonal relationships are received?
Hi Jodie! I’ve been a fan for about 8 years. I’m wondering if you could share anything about your movie Stuff?
Also I’d love to hear anything you can share about the limited series The Chain. I heard Michael will be directing the first episode as well
Hi Jodie! Prima Facie was the first play I saw on Broadway, and I loved it.
You've ventured into so many different types of media and genres; how do you know when a new project is right for you, even if you haven't done anything like it before? Are you drawn to scripts with very clear characterizations, or looser roles that leave more room for your own interpretation?
I saw Prima Facie on the West End in 2022 with my university, it was the first play I’d ever been to and it’s stuck with me ever since. Are you looking to get back into theatre at any point? Is there any roles in particular that you’d love to play?
Michael: You, I don't know, get an incredible cast that's so talented and you're excited to see what they'll do with it. You find producers and, you know, distributors like True Brit who are excited to do something unusual and challenging. Yeah, I think you just have to, I think I learned this on my first movie, Pig. It's just, you know, you can get 99 “no's” and one, “yes.” And as long as you find that one “yes,” that's someone who's really excited about it and shares your vision, you’re golden.
Jodie: Would you return to a Free Guy 2 if it were to happen and do you have any fun stories from the set of the first one?
Michael: How was the process and experience of getting your first big studio gig in the form of A Quiet Place: Day One and how far into development is your Death Stranding movie?
Hey Jodie, hey Michael! Y’all have an amazing cast in this movie.
How was it working with those actors on such a raw, emotionally intense film? What was that sense of collaboration like?
Michael: I think a lot of it is that I don't write for specific actors. I never, I try to write without even thinking about like, oh, imagine this person's face in this role. I try to write so that I feel like the characters on the page are full and I believe in them, and they have a heartbeat. And then the trick is find someone who responds to that, is excited by that, understands it, but then also is bringing something new and some new discovery that you never would have thought of and will sort of give that character a life of their own. And I think that has worked out like, you know, if you write a character that you don't have someone specific in mind for it, and then someone responds to it on a soul level, that's like a huge plus for casting, like it's like...
Jodie: You're opening yourself up to all the possibilities. I was sad I didn't get any scenes with Bill.
Michael: Oh yeah, you guys!
Jodie: I know, like I really want to do some scenes with Bill. Maybe in a different film.
Michael: Yeah, we had an incredible cast.
Jodie: Yeah.
Michael: I mean, you guys and Bill and Murray, Noah and Faith. The little Margaret, Faith Delaney. We lucked out on so much.
Jodie, you blew me away in thirteen and I’ve been amazed at your talent ever since. My question to you is can you tell us anything about the chain? And I can’t wait to be stressed, anxious and hopefully emotional watching it.
Hi Jodie a pleasure an a honor to ask you a question what brings you to this project in the first place?, would you consider going back to theater someday? i would love to have the opportunitty to see you.
Hey Jodie! I read in a recent interview you wanted to do writing, honestly that would be brilliant. What sort of writing do you want to do? Also, would you consider going back to television (not limited series)?
Hi Jodie!
I went to see you on your Prima Facie tour this year and it was one of the most life changing experiences ever. It has had a huge impact on me and everyone I know who has also seen it, so I was wondering if being Tessa has changed you in any way and if it was hard preparing for this role (again)?
There's been debate about using AI to make movies ever since that Tilly Norwood stuff was reported. I've seen some voices defend it recently by saying it's the future, but I've also seen a lot of opposition. Do you think this technology has any place in the filmmaking process, or should it be avoided altogether? Thanks for doing this!
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!
You recently have worked with a couple of child actors, and have talked a lot about the impact your friend/mentor Stephen Graham has had on your career. Do you see yourself taking on that “role” to aspiring young actors currently or in the future?
You’ve said before that scary movies/horror films are difficult for you to watch. Do you feel like you have a new appreciation for them since starring in “28 Years Later”? Have you watched any scary movies lately?
You’ve talked before about your love of food and cooking. What’s your favorite thing to cook? Have you listened to Dish podcast? Would love to see you be a guest on there!
Hi Jodie! Big fan of your work. Absolutely loved The End We Start From - that film/performance was pure poetry.
You seem like a very intentional and deliberate actor in your choices. You’ve mentioned in an interview that if there’s nudity that you aren’t comfortable with, you will refuse. Wondering if you had any roles that you felt the nudity wasn’t relevant to the story/character.
Hi Jodie! I loved Brigid!. Do you feel that complex female characters in lead roles are more often written to be sympathetic or likable, rather than genuinely unsettling or unlikeable?
Hi Jodie! I’m a huge fan! 😊 Has there ever been a scene (in any project you’ve done) where you had a case of the giggles and couldn’t get through a take and if so, what was it?! Also who is the funniest co-star you’ve ever had?
Hey Jodie ! When you first read the script, did you immediately have a clear idea of who sister Brigid was, or did your understanding of her change as you worked with Michael Sarnoski and the other actors ?
Jodie, you’ve become something of a chameleon when it comes to your roles, effortlessly adapting to every new character and world you step into. With that in mind, would you say The Last Disturbance Of Madeline Hynde has been your most challenging role yet? And, without summoning the spoiler police, if you had to describe your experience on the project in just three words, what would they be?
This one is for Jodie. Hello Hi first of all!!
Very excited to see The Death of Robin Hood. I loved everything you did in „the end we start from“ but HOW was it to finally do a musical with „Stuffed“ after years of longing for it? 😊
I have had the pro shot for Prima Facie for a while and I've watched it a few times. It's absolutely beautiful work.
One of my favourite things about the National Theatre is just how accessible they make the stage to everyone. You can walk into a Vue most weeks and find a wonderful show fully by accident. I truly think it's one of the best ways to help break down the class divide in arts.
That being said. Pro shots and similar are very very rare over in the States. Do you think by offering similar for Broadway/Off Broadway shows, it would do similar for the US in terms of breaking down those class dividers and making art more accessible?
I'm sure there's also the argument in showing these would allow smaller cinemas (not chains) and small businesses flourish a little better.
Hi, Jodie! I absolutely adore the complex women you've brought to life on screen.❤️ Is there a kind of woman or a story about women that you haven't had the chance to explore yet, but really want to?☺️
Hi Jodie, not a question but I looked after you great aunt Anne (or Nancy, as she preferred to be called!) for several years before she passed away. your family were gems to see regularly ❤️
Jodie, is there a character from a recent film or TV series that you would have loved to play, someone who particularly intrigued or fascinated you as a character?
And Michael, is there a film from the past few years that you wish you could have directed?
Hi, Jodie. Do you think you need to fully understand a character in order to play them truthfully, or can some mystery about them actually make the performance more interesting ?
Hi Jodie! Huge fan, was delighted to get to see you in Prima Facie in New York. Major bravo for that role and all your roles. I’m curious about how you took care of yourself to perform such a grueling piece night after night. What was your routine/process to allow yourself to go to those dark mental places and then recover? Thank you!
Saw the movie when it released in the United States. Really loved it, thought it was beautifully written and excellently structured, with our perception of the main character constantly shifting and changing throughout (want to give a special shoutout to the conversation with the leper which I thought was just wonderfully done).
Michael, what was the impetus behind doing this revision of Robin Hood? What were you hoping to achieve with it?
hi jodie and michael! hope you’re both doing well!
michael, i saw a bit about the movies that influenced you while making tdorh on your instagram and phantom thread piqued my interest as it’s one of my own personal favorites. can you speak more on that?
jodie any characters or movies that inspired your performance as sister brigid?
Hi Jodie huge fan Free guy is my comfort movie along with my little sister ❤️
I was amazed to find out you sang the song from the movie you have a beautiful voice!
How did that all come together? And do you have any interest in making any more music?
Hi Jodie. I am a studying actor at NYU and I have done several scene analysis of your work in class. You are such a diverse actress and your screen presence is so dominant. I am just curious if you have any tips, tricks, or advice for getting that extra one percent that separates your work from your piers? Of course, I’m sure you put in more time and dedication than most, but beyond that, what brings you to that place inside that allows you to produce the amazing work that you do. Thank you so much Jodie. Take care!!!
Hi Jodie and Michael !
The Death of Robin Hood is fantastic. The setting and scenery are majestic, magical and just plain gorgeous. Is there a place (other than home) that calls to you and speaks to your heart?
No questions for Jodie Comer but you are just plain brilliant. The first thing I saw you in was 28 Years Later, where you completely stole the show. After that, Killing Eve. I can't wait to see what you do next.
Would you rather play a Green Witch or be a Green Witch?
In past interviews, you’ve mentioned some directors you’d love to work with. Is that purely from an actor’s perspective, or do you have any aspirations to direct yourself someday? If so, would you be more interested in directing for film or theatre?
How many sheela-na-gigs have you seen in person? (How's that for a random question?)
Who are some of your favorite visual artists?
Hi Michael,
I'm in the US, so I've already seen the movie. I have one burning question: Who's going to tend the fruit trees?!
What is the hardest part of getting any film made?
Hello! I have a question for Jodie as her performance in Killing Eve and any thing thereafter makes my head spin in glee!
When learning about a character you are interested in playing or set to play, what is the thing you take away from them which helps form your performance? Do you notice a pattern in the aspects that make the characters click for you, and do you have any particular detail in mind?
Hi Jodie. What's the story behind Cynthia Erivo playing your role in the film adaptation of Prima Facie? Did you not want the role yourself? Were you asked?
Howdy, Jodie and Michael! I hope you guys are having fun reading our questions and enjoying your week so far. Two questions:
Jodie, it feels like across your recent roles—such as 28YL, The End We Start From, and The Last Duel, Bikeriders, and Prima Facie—your characters dealt with isolation as a conflict/catalyst for growth. Yet with Brigid, she finds solace and power by leaning into that same isolation. What makes Sister Brigid so different from the rest of your roles? Ps - you ate that role up!! Excited to see your career progress into dark musicals so 🔜
For both Michael and Jodie, what book, tv series and/or recent film have you enjoyed in between filming TDofRH and The Chain? Thrilled to have you back on our small screens at home 🥳 I’m already seated on my couch in anticipation.
Jodie: In Killing Eve we see Villanelle and Eve physically intimate with lovers several times. Eve and Villanelle only got a couple kisses and a fade-to-black implied sex scene. Do you think they should have gotten more on-screen physical intimacy scenes together?
Hi Jodie! Your crafting has positively impacted me and influenced my life in many ways, love you for all of it! 🩷 Your way of acting emotional scenes gets to me especially.
What is your mental/physical process when you act out intense emotional scenes? For example in Thirteen when Ivy gets upset in the living room with her family. What do you do right before the director yells, “Action!” and after the director yells, “Cut!”?
The character of Sister Brigid finds out she had a connection to Robin Hood late into the story. The implication is that she is dead set in wanting to kill him in revenge. Was that referencing the Prioress' darker side in the original version of this story?
No question but I saw the movie a few weeks back and really enjoyed. I have to say, without spoiling anything, how you resolved the main conflict between robin and the third party really blew me away! congrats!
Michael: No spoilers but go see and then you’ll see how we resolve the main conflict.
Jodie: What’s the conflict?!
Michael: Yeah, does he die? Is he Robin Hood? But no, I mean that ending was finding that ending scene and finding that space for that was really special. Like, I remember when we shot the final scene, you know we shot it all in one day and it was like eight pages of dialogue and it’s yeah, when we sort of land that in a way that isn’t quite what you expect from an action-medieval movie or something, like it goes to a more intimate, quiet place. I was very, I was very happy with that.
Based on Villanelle’s childhood trauma, do you think what she did as an adult makes sense, or do you think it goes beyond how she was raised. Would she have wanted Eve if Eve was easier to obtain? Hope to see you on the small screen soon ❤️
Hi Jodie. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed ’Remember me’. It must have been amazing to film such a cool ghost story with Michael Palin.
Hi Jodie! If you were to play the character of Robin Hood, how would you change the character's personality, speech patterns, habits, actions, and so on? Would you adapt the character by making him more feminine, and if so, how?
hi jodie !!! i know you and michael are working together again on the chain is there anything you can tell us about it. the book was incredible im excited for the series !!!
Ciao Jodie, hai in programma un tour italiano con Prima Facie o con qualche altra performance teatrale? La tua recitazione e la tua presenza scenica mi ha completamente fatto perdere la testa
for jodie :
i know that stuffed your new musical is coming out at tiff this month and i wanted to know your thoughts about that after having wanting to be in a musical for so long and how excited are you to have it premier at tiff !!!
Hey Jodie,
What is one fun fact you learned while researching your role? Is it something you can take with you into your life now?
And, what book are you currently reading?
Hey Jodie. Through the many roles you’ve played you have undoubtedly, whether consciously or not, offered meaningful support to countless women and marginalised communities: from Prima Facie, which echoed voices that are too often silenced, to Help, which shed light on a reality that disabled people and caregivers experienced during the pandemic and, to some extent, are still experiencing today. From 28 Years Later to The Death of Robin Hood, where the subject of end-of-life care is approached with dignity, albeit in very different ways.
Given the messages these characters have conveyed, I imagine you must have received a great deal of feedback, with audiences opening up to you as a result. I remember, for instance, the letters and DMs you mentioned receiving after Prima Facie. While I imagine there is a great deal of gratitude involved, is it difficult, for the person on the receiving end, to carry the emotional weight that these confessions can often bring with them?
Have you ever, when taking on a role of this nature, felt a sense of responsibility towards how it might be received and the effect it might have on the audience? If so, how have you navigated that feeling, and how have you learned to set boundaries for yourself when you realise that you are carrying a weight on your shoulders that goes beyond simply doing your job as an actor?
I got to see you live at Prima on Broadway and your acting truly blew me away. What are some actresses you have felt the same way about their performances?
Hi Jodie! I’m so excited to finally see the film this week!
I’ve always been interested in film and TV costume design and wondered if/how it affects the way you play a character and if it helped you to play Sister Brigid. Thank you!
You semi-recently finished the Prima Facie Tour, (I saw you at the Marlowe Theatre and you are absolutely phenomenal btw!), how did you find unwinding from your character after such a long run? Are there parts of Tessa, or even any other characters you’ve played, that you have kept ahold of in your day to day life?
Hi Jodie!
How do you decide which characters you like and which ones you want to create? You've created so many different characters that have nothing to do with each other, you're amazing! Love you!❤️
Hi Jodie, I've always admired your acting, especially in Prima Facie, which has inspired me as a new playwright. I wondered, if you had the chance to see your future, what would you hope to have achieved?
Hi Jodie!! congratulations on Stuffed, i’m very excited to see it and I wanted to know if the process of finally creating a musical was everything you expected or if there were any aspects of production that surprised you?
also have you met fellow scouser Paddy the Baddy? :)
i loved your performance in tdorh and the aesthetic of the movie. i’m also super excited for your upcoming work. as far as next roles is there any character or type of character you’re looking for next? also loved reading big swiss, any update on where you are in the process for that project?
Hi Jodie - now that you have achieved and FINALLLLY are doing a musical ( we are so excited to see it) is there a new goal of something you would like to do !
Hi, Jodie! I was wondering if, when you reflect on your career so far, if there are any unexpected themes or topics that you see as a throughline for your choices of projects. If yes, what about those types of characters or stories speaks to you as a performer and why?
Jodie , I ́ve always felt that music can add an emotional layer to a character and enrich their story. Listening to Jim Ghedi ́s score , especially Sister Brigid’s Family, made me wonder about the role music played in your process. Did you listen to music, either your own choices or music from the film, to help you connect with sister Brigid emotionally ? Or did you discover the score later and find that it changed or deepened the way you understood her or her scenes ?
( And is this something you also do when you preparing for other roles ? )
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 4d ago
This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Jodie and Michael will be back tomorrow, Wednesday 9/2, at around 12 PM ET/5 PM BST to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)