Killing Eve: Villanelle ‘resonated with LGBT community,’ says Jodie Comer

Killing Eve Villanelle and Eve

Killing Eve stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer have discussed acting together in a new interview, with the latter saying her character has “really resonated” with the LGBT+ community.

In a new Entertainment Weekly interview, Comer, who plays psychopathic assassin Villanelle, praised the show for its LGBT+ friendly themes—and its portrayal of the intense relationship between her and MI5 agent Eve Polastri (Oh), who become obsessed with each other.

“What I’ve really picked up on is the connection that people have had with Villanelle’s sexuality,” Comer told Entertainment Weekly.

“[She has] really resonated with the LGBT community … You can have these relationships with women, this fascination, this compulsiveness to know this, and I don’t think that I’ve ever really seen that explored on television.”

People had a connection with Villanelle’s sexuality, says Killing Eve actor Jodie Comer

Comer also said that, of all the things, she had a near-death experience when she choked on a dish of pasta during the filming for one Killing Eve scene in Season 2.

“This is actually really triggering,” she explained.

“I told my brother about it and he was like, ‘I love this. Of all the things that could have killed Villanelle, it was a mouthful of pasta.’”

“What I’ve really picked up on is the connection that people have had with Villanelle’s sexuality.”

—Jodie Comer

Season 1 of Killing Eve, based on Luke Jennings’s Codename Villanelle book series, received rave reviews and picked up a number of awards, including Sandra Oh winning a Golden Globe for her role as Eve.

The trailer for Season 2 of the show, which combines black comedy and psychosexual elements, was released on February 14.


Oh, meanwhile, discussed her character and Villanelle’s dynamic in Season 2, which is set to premiere in the US on April 7, saying: “I feel that they communicate on a completely different plane, where things like stabbing the other person mean different things.”

Eve has lost “all” in pursuit of Villanelle, says Sandra Oh

Asked how much Eve has lost in the pursuit of Villanelle, Oh replied: “All. I gotta tell you, absolutely that’s what you’re going to see in the second [season].

“Then it becomes not even about Villanelle; it’s just like, what is she pursuing that she cannot let go of?”

Social media users praised Entertainment Weekly for its cover shoot of Comer and Oh.

Shirley Li, a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, said that “everything about” the cover is “PERFECTION.”

“Jodie comer should hold sharp objects in EVERY SHOOT,” Li added.

Another Twitter user wrote: “Killing eve cover for EW & photo shoot really touch my heart .”

Watch the Killing Eve Season 2 trailer below:

Killing Eve Season 1 bags multiple awards

Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also creator of Killing Eve.

However, The Hollywood Reporter revealed in July that Waller-Bridge had delegated some of the work for the second season by hiring head writer Emerald Fennell to take over some of the scripting duties as she juggles multiple projects.

Season 1 of the show also picked up accolades at the Screen Actors Guild and the Gotham Awards.

It was widely praised by news outlets, including the Guardian, which declared it the best TV show of 2018.