Jodie Comer is an English actress born March 11, 1993, in Liverpool, who achieved international recognition through her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of assassin Villanelle in BBC’s *Killing Eve* (2018-2022). She began her career in 2008 with television appearances before starring in productions including *My Mad Fat Diary*, *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker*, and *The Last Duel*. Her stage work in *Prima Facie* earned Tony, Olivier, and BAFTA awards, establishing her extensive range across multiple entertainment mediums.
A meteoric rise from Liverpool youth theater to international stardom defines the career trajectory of Jodie Comer, the English actress who has emerged as one of Britain’s most versatile and acclaimed performers. Born March 11, 1993, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, Comer began her acting journey as a teenager in local youth theater before shifting to professional television work in 2008. Her educational background at St Julie’s Catholic High School, which significantly supported students in performing arts, provided early foundation for her career development. She developed a close friendship with Katarina Johnson-Thompson during her school years at St Julie’s.
Comer’s television career commenced with guest appearances on established British series, including her first role on *The Royal Today* in 2008, followed by appearances on *Holby City*, *Silent Witness*, and *Law & Order: UK*. Her breakthrough performance came as Chloe Gemell in the critically acclaimed series *My Mad Fat Diary* from 2013 to 2015, which established her reputation for complex character work.
Subsequent roles in the drama miniseries *Thirteen* (2016) as Ivy Moxam and historical drama *The White Princess* (2017) as Elizabeth of York demonstrated her range across genres.
International recognition arrived with her portrayal of Villanelle in the BBC series *Killing Eve* from 2018 to 2022, a performance that showcased her multilingual abilities and capacity for rapid character transformation between vulnerability and menace. This role earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2019, alongside BAFTA Television Awards in 2019 and 2022, and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama.
Comer’s film career encompasses supporting roles in *England is Mine* (2017) and major productions including *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* (2019), *Free Guy* (2021) with Ryan Reynolds, and Ridley Scott’s *The Last Duel* (2021) alongside Matt Damon.
Recent projects include lead roles in *The Bikeriders* (2023) and *The End We Start From* (2023), with *28 Years Later* scheduled for 2025 release.
Stage work represents another dimension of Comer’s achievements, particularly her West End debut in the one-woman play *Prima Facie* (2022), which earned her Olivier and Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The Broadway transfer in 2023 resulted in a Tony Award, cementing her status across multiple performance mediums. Her early theater training included a notable victory at the Liverpool Performing Arts Festival where she won first place with a powerful monologue about the Hillsborough disaster.
Industry observers credit Comer with revitalizing the female antihero archetype in television drama, inspiring casting decisions for complex women’s roles while maintaining influence among emerging British acting talent through her continued project diversity and critical acclaim.
