From Peaky Blinders to Jamestown - Sophie Rundle is a woman in a new world
She plays a strong, dynamic woman in Sky One hit Jamestown — and Sophie Rundle wouldn’t have it any other way. The self-branded ‘feminist actress’ says her character Alice is just the type of woman people want to see on TV, writes
“It’s indicative of an audience’s desire to see female-led dramas, fleshed out female protagonists, and this is part of that movement.”
And she insists: “That’s something I’ve been conscious of and want to make true in all jobs I do.
“It’s important we have women at the front and centre.”
Ever since graduating from RADA in 2011, Rundle has made a beeline for ‘fully fleshed out, multi-faceted parts’, unafraid to turn down those that don’t meet her criteria.
The 29-year-old has held her own as the hardy Ada Shelby in Peaky Blinders; caused waves as a skilled code-breaker in wartime hit The Bletchley Circle; and starred opposite Friends star Matt Le Blanc in Episodes.
Now, the British actress is back to reprise her role in the second season of Jamestown.
The corset drama — from the makers of Downton Abbey — returns to 17th century Virginia to chart the early days of the first British invaders as they establish their place in the New World.
But while the tobacco plantations are starting to provide the wealth they promised and trade booms, the status quo is soon to be disrupted by births, deaths and broken marriages.
For one, former farm girl Alice — who suffered a horrific rape ordeal at the hands of Henry (Max Beesley) in the first run, and has since married his brother Silas (Stuart Martin) — has given birth.
On the public response to the harrowing abuse suffered, she says: “People were really shocked by it. It came at a really shocking point in the first series, before the first ad break.
“We wanted it to be realistic in the sense that it was scrappy and messy and it’s everything you think it would be. That’s what you anticipate, the violence against women going into this very male-dominated environment that’s just fuelled with testosterone.”
Aside from honing such powerful scenes for a modern-day audience, Rundle had to maintain focus whilst juggling filming with that of hedonistic hit, Peaky Blinders, too.
“I was doing them both at the same time for a while, which was quite hard going back and forth and remembering who was who,” she recalls.
“You don’t want Ada Shelby in the Jamestown settlement; she would destroy them all!” she says, laughing. “But it’s a nice contrast to play Alice who is this gentle, beautifully pure-hearted domestic woman and then Ada Shelby who’s gun blazing, fur coat and stuff.
“It’s the reason I love doing TV,” she confides. “Revisiting stories and characters and the length of the story arcs... There’s a sense of familiarity there that’s really appealing. They’re like a family and these guys are too.”
Next Rundle will star in Bodyguard - a contemporary thriller from the creators of Line of Duty, led by Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes.
It’s an exciting time to be in the industry, she says, and for women in particular.
“Generationally, there’s a shift and sense of unity,” she elaborates. “Enough is enough is the sense — but not just for women. It’s important it’s not just our prerogative to spearhead this movement, if all of us feel this way,” she says. “This isn’t just our battle: all the men I work with, it’s important to them as well. It’s not a divisive movement.
“If we don’t start representing women properly on screen now we’re never going to change our opinion of them as a society,” she finishes. “That’s what this is taking steps towards.”
