Killing Eve star Jodie Comer may appear invincible on screen, but she candidly admits she was “quite literally terrified” when taking on her latest role.
In the climate change survival film The End We Start From, Comer portrays a mother navigating flooding and civil unrest while caring for her newborn baby. Despite the seemingly impossible challenge, Comer thrives on pushing her limits. Her impressive acting prowess has already earned her multiple awards, including two BAFTAs.
The film begins in London, where an environmental disaster forces Comer’s character and her partner to flee their flooded home and seek refuge at his parents’ house in the countryside. However, the chaos of lawlessness and the desperate need for food and medicine keep them on the move.
For Comer, working closely with 15 infants, ranging from eight weeks to young toddlers, was a unique and eye-opening experience. “It was very eye-opening,” she shared. Strict on-set rules allowed each child to participate in a scene for only 20 minutes, requiring a rotation of babies.
“I hadn’t spent much time around young babies, and my hands were visibly shaking when I met an eight-week-old on set,” Comer confessed to the BBC. “It’s one thing to act and think about everything else, but then actually being conscious of this precious little being and making sure they’re safe.”
Her character, simply named Woman, appears with baby Zeb in almost every scene, necessitating a swift adaptation to the unpredictable rhythms of infants during the six-week shoot. “People always say nothing can prepare you for having a child, and that’s very much where Woman started,” she explained. “But then you see her come into her own and find her instincts and nature. It felt like that simultaneously happened to me in real-time.”
She fondly recalls a scene where the baby fell asleep in her arms, making the shoot surprisingly easy. “The baby fell completely dead asleep. He was like a little sack of potatoes. The production staff asked if I wanted to take him off, but I was like, ‘Just keep him there; he’s settled, he’s quiet – we’re happy.'”
Director Mahalia Belo praised Comer’s tenacity in handling the logistical challenges of working with so many infants. “We had no time with the babies, so having someone as present and adaptable as Jodie was crucial. We wouldn’t have made it through without her tenacity.”
Depicting widespread flooding and chaos during a drought in September and October 2022 posed another challenge. “We couldn’t use rain machines until the hosepipe ban was lifted,” Belo explained. Once lifted, they cleverly simulated flooding effects within budget constraints to maintain a natural feel.
For Comer, this indie film experience was a new and rewarding challenge. “Before doing an indie film, I always heard people talk about the passion and drive behind them, and now I understand. It’s no joke; people are making these films for the love of it.”
Motherhood is central to the film, reflecting the overwhelming feelings new mothers often experience amid chaos. Based on Megan Hunter’s lyrical novella, the screenplay was adapted by Alice Birch, known for her work on Normal People and Lady Macbeth.
Comer’s performance has been widely acclaimed. The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee described her “magnificent lead performance,” noting her emerging status as a big-screen star. Variety’s Guy Lodge praised Belo’s direction, emphasizing the film’s human element.
The film also features Benedict Cumberbatch, who produced the film, alongside Katherine Waterston and Gina McKee. Comer lauded McKee as “a goddess” and enjoyed observing Cumberbatch in action, calling the experience “kind of amazing.”
Waterston’s character, O, is a fellow displaced mother whose friendship with Woman grows as they rely on each other for support. Comer noted that O teaches Woman to “just be herself.”
Comer is committed to continually challenging herself as an actress, seeking scripts that move, invigorate, and emotionally connect with her. “If it’s not a ‘Hell yes!’ it’s usually a ‘No.’ I’m always looking for something new – a self-discovery, in a way.”
With her fearless approach to acting and unwavering dedication, Jodie Comer continues to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of her craft.
