It turns out Jodie Comer has to thank her lucky stars for Stephen Graham’s gesture that launched her acting career.
The actress, 27, is among the nominees at this year’s BAFTA TV Awards for the Leading Actress category for her role as Oksana Astankova/Villanelle in Killing Eve.
And during tonight’s pre-show with Tom Allen ahead of the virtual awards ceremony, Jodie chatted to the comic alongside Stephen, who joined in on the call from his living room.
During their conversation, Tom congratulated the pair for their respective nominations; with Stephen being nominated for Leading Actor for his role in The Virtues.
As Tom asked the pair how they know each other, Stephen quipped: “Me and Jodie worked together years ago – we met on a production called Good Cop. Jodie had a small part and she was just magnificent to work with.
“I just saw her talent immediately and I just said to her: ‘Look, I think you’ve got an amazing talent and if I could in any way get your number – don’t worry, I’m happily married and all that – and contact my agents on your behalf?’ and she was like ‘What? Me? Honestly?’
“And then I just introduced her to them and bosh.”
Tom went on to clarify if Stephen really did tell Jodie not to lose her accent, to which she responded: “Yes, yes. Because I’ve always had this thing in my head that I needed to or that I would be taken more seriously if I did, and Stephen was like ‘Are you kidding? Never ever do that’.
“And I was so glad that he reminded me because he’s so authentic and always himself. To see someone from Liverpool doing what they’re doing was really inspiring.”
Tom then went on to show Jodie’s emotional acceptance speech from her monumental win last year for Killing Eve – in which she thanked Stephen for kickstarting her career.
In her speech last year, an emotional Jodie said: “I want to take this moment to thank Stephen Graham.
“If I didn’t owe you a pint before then, I do now. Thank you for the generosity you showed me all those years ago.”
It’s safe to say Stephen was right in what he saw, as Jodie is up for yet another BAFTA tonight.