From Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), the BBC America series Killing Eve is centered on two women – Eve (Sandra Oh), a bored but smart MI5 security officer who’s forever stuck at her desk job, and Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a talented killer who thoroughly enjoys her work. When these two women happen to cross paths, they become equally obsessed with each other and find themselves in an epic and thrilling game of cat-and-mouse.

During this 1-on-1 interview with Collider, actress Jodie Comer talked about why she wanted to be a part of Killing Eve, learning to understand her character, Villanelle’s fantastic wardrobe, whether we’ll learn about why she ended up in this line of work, how her carelessness will get her in trouble, what Villanelle thinks of Eve, her desire to do as many of her own stunts as possible, and why she could play this character for the rest of her life.

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Image via BBC America

Collider: Was this one of those instances where you read a character like this and there’s just no way that you could say no?

JODIE COMER: Yeah, absolutely! I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this script, but particularly last year, I was really hungry to do something modern-day and edgy, and this come through. I was just like, “Whoa, I’ve never read a character like this before!” Also, I wanted to work with (show creator) Phoebe [Waller-Bridge]. I was a huge fan of Fleabag and I knew that whatever she touches has her special imprint on it. I feel like it can’t be replicated anywhere. You get some scripts where you’re just like, “I’ve gotta do this! I have to!” It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, it’s special.

It seems like one of those characters that, after you get attached, you would be crushed, if someone else got the role.

COMER: Yeah, exactly! I was like, “If I didn’t get this, I can’t watch it! I just can’t do that to myself!” To be fair, if you didn’t get the part and someone else does, you can usually watch and go, “Yeah, I totally see why that person got the role.” Luckily, I didn’t have to go through that because I got it.

Does it make the physicality of a role like this easier, when you can wear modern clothes and actually breathe?

COMER: Yeah. It’s a funny one because the pro of period drama costumes is that they are so transformative. It’s so easy to get into character. Not that it isn’t with modern-day clothes, but it just has that extra little something. But Villanelle has the most insane wardrobe, ever. The clothes that I got to wear were ridiculous, so I was more than happy on this job. It was also the same costume designer as The White Princess, Phoebe De Gaye, so it was lovely.

Is it hard to really understand a character like this, who is constantly trying to be other things, depending on the situation?

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Image via BBC America

COMER: I did struggle with that. My approach to her was that I thought she’s just like an actress. She has these different personas, and she creates them. That’s how I approached it, rather than her being so many different people in her brain. It was more that she’s Villanelle, and these are her little characters that she picks up and leaves, if she needs them. That’s how I trained my brain to understand what I needed to do, or what she was doing.

Will we get to know more about why she ended up in this profession?

COMER: Yeah, you do. As the story goes on, you definitely do see a little bit more of an insight into that. As the investigation progresses and they find out more information, you do learn a little bit about her. I don’t think her past excuses what she does, but I think it definitely gives you a little bit more of an understanding, as to who she is and where she’s come from, definitely.

It’s one thing to kill people and it’s another thing entirely to enjoy it, which she seems to do.

COMER: Yeah, absolutely! It’s like a life force for her. I feel like her job gives her purpose, for sure, and she wants to do a good job. She’s had so many conversations with Konstantin (Kim Bodnia), where she’s like, “Did you see what I did?! Did you see how good that was?! Are you impressed with me?! Because I’m impressed with me!” She’s so self-confident. She’s brilliant.

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Image via BBC America

Do you think that will also get her in trouble?

COMER: Yeah, absolutely! I think she become quite careless. Konstantin is certainly in charge of her, and he sees this going on, so she loses a little bit of her independence and she can’t deal with that. Konstantin says, “Listen, you do what you’re told, and you don’t ask any questions.” She doesn’t abide by that, and there are consequences to that. What’s so lovely about their relationship is that he’s the only person who understands her and sees through her games. He’s like a father figure, in a lot of ways. It’s nice to see her actually have what seems to be a genuine relationship with someone, who she may actually care about, maybe.

Do you think she would still kill him, if need be?

COMER: I don’t know. I wouldn’t put anything past her, at this point.

Does she have a moral code? Is there somewhere that she would draw the line?

COMER: First off, I think she puts herself first, so if her life was threatened, then she would absolutely do anything. I think her independence is what’s most important to her, and why that is, you will discover.

How threatened does she feel by being looked into?

COMER: At the beginning, she thinks it’s just a game. She feels invincible. Maybe there’s a realization that they are actually getting information. She doesn’t speak Russian anymore. That’s the part of her life that she wants nothing to do with, and yet it’s getting dragged up by everybody else. That is not something that sits well with her, at all. What she does about it, you’ll have to see.

What does Villanelle think of Eve, and what can we expect from how that dynamic develops?

COMER: Villanelle lives this luxurious life, and I think she’s intrigued at how ordinary Eve is. She lives her life with her husband. The narcissist in Villanelle is like, “This chick wants to know about me? I’m gonna show her!” She wants to make sure that Eve gets to her. She wants to make sure that they meet. It’s a funny relationship. I feel like Villanelle is seeking something from Eve. Nothing material, but spiritually, there’s something. There’s a connection there that they’re both not sure of, but it’s undeniable. It’s there. There is a connection with Eve, on a personal level for Villanelle, because she reminds her of someone who is very close to her, in her past. It brings all of these emotions up.

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Image via BBC America

Do you think Villanelle has ever had genuine feelings toward someone?

COMER: I think she’s loved people before. I think she’s definitely felt love for people, but that’s also what’s crushed her. I feel like, deep down in there, there’s a person who wants that. She just wants someone who she can sit on the couch with and watch a film, but then her own self goes against her.

Do you think there’s any situation where she would give it all up and try to have a normal life?

COMER: Oh, god, I don’t know. I think she’d give it a go, but I don’t think she’d last very long. I hope she does. I feel like there’s a huge void in her life, but I just don’t trust her. I think she’s addicted to the whole thing. She likes to amuse herself, and she gets much joy from playing games with people and seeing if they’ll trust her and fall for her.

What’s the most fun you’ve had, doing the action and the physical side of it?

COMER: Climbing up a drain pipe, I was like, “James Bond, move over!” I was so impressed with myself, for doing that. I went wall-climbing in London, just so I could get used to carrying my own weight. I was pretty proud of that moment.

Have there been any moments where you wished you could do something that they just wouldn’t let you do?

COMER: They wouldn’t let me drive the motor bike. That was somebody else. To be honest, what I could do, realistically, I wanted to do. This is the first role that I’ve had to do stunts for. I had to get used to it. When you get used to doing the dialogue for a scene, it just flows, whereas you might only get 20 minutes to figure out a stunt. So, as much as I could do, I wanted to do, just to try to keep the energy of the scene going. But then, my stunt girl was really good. She was insane! I don’t know how they do it, honestly.

When you finished the season for this, were you even that much more excited to see where it could go next, or were you just exhausted?

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COMER: When we wrapped, I was so proud. You feel so accomplished, when you do a huge job like this. Everyone becomes a family and you’re like, “Oh, my god, these people that I’ve been with for six months, I don’t know that I’ll ever see them again.” So, it was nice to go be with family and chill out. I just hope people enjoy it as much as I did, making it because I could just play Villanelle for the rest of my life. Hopefully, people like her.

Do you worry about the fact that there probably has to be a point where she gets caught or receives some sort of punishment?

COMER: Yeah, I guess do. I don’t know, though. I’d like to believe that she won’t, but everyone has to have their comeuppance, don’t they?

Especially when they’re killing that many people.

COMER: I know, but I just want her to stay in her apartment with her lovely clothes. It’s interesting, the difference from the Villanelle you see, at the start of the series, to the Villanelle in Episode 8, is humongous. It’s really, really such a massive transformation.

Killing Eve airs on Sunday nights on BBC America.

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