How a Liverpool monologue launched a global acting career
In short: Before she was a celebrated international star, Jodie Comer was a teenager performing a monologue about the Hillsborough disaster. From a local drama school in Belle Vale to winning both a Tony and an Olivier Award, her journey reveals the intense discipline behind modern screen and stage mastery.
Jodie Comer’s ascent began in Liverpool, where she attended St Julie's Catholic High School and trained at the CALS Theatre School. A pivotal moment occurred in 2006 when, after being excluded from a dance group due to a family holiday, she performed a monologue regarding the Hillsborough disaster at St George's Hall. This performance led to her first professional opportunity: a role in a BBC Radio 4 play, an experience that convinced her co-stars she possessed the potential for a successful career.
Her television breakthrough arrived through roles in series such as My Mad Fat Diary and Doctor Foster, but it was the spy thriller Killing Eve (2018–2022) that established her global reputation. Playing the sociopathic assassin Villanelle, Comer earned both a BAFTA Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award in 2019. The role was transformative; she noted that playing such a bold, 'ridiculous' character taught her that acting does not always have to be minimal or whispered.
Comer has since transitioned seamlessly between screen and stage. In 2022, she made her West End debut in Suzie Miller's Prima Facie, a performance that later transferred to Broadway in 2023. Her work on this production was so impactful that the National Theatre Live cinema broadcast became the highest-grossing event cinema release ever, earning £4.47 million. Despite her international fame, Comer remains connected to her roots, often discussing the challenges of navigating the industry with a working-class Liverpool accent.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jodie Comer
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