Jodie Comer and Austin Butler recently made an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where they discussed accents and their latest projects. Jodie, known for her impressive accent work on Killing Eve, talked about how she always imitated various accents and voices growing up. She revealed that she didn’t expect to showcase her language skills on the show, but as each episode of Killing Eve unfolded, she found herself speaking Russian, German, and more. However, she admitted that the attention on social media made her momentarily self-conscious about her accent choices. Despite that, she recognized that we all have different aspects of ourselves that we release in different situations.
On the show, Graham also asked Austin about his experience transforming into his character for the movie The Bikeriders. Austin shared that he didn’t shave his head for the role because he had another film lined up immediately after, and his director preferred him to keep his hair. Instead, the hair and makeup team created a realistic-looking bald cap for him to wear, which he humorously described as a “cold wig.” He further explained that it took about an hour or three hours to attach and make it look perfect, from his eyelids to where it attached behind his ears. Austen described the process as meticulous and commended the team’s attention to detail.
During their appearance, Jodie also shared an amusing anecdote about being compared to Baby Yoda during the Golden Globes. She mentioned that she was leaving a party when a paparazzo asked her about the comparison. Curious, she Googled Baby Yoda and couldn’t help but agree that there was a resemblance. Jodie added that she didn’t find it particularly fair but acknowledged Baby Yoda’s cuteness.
Austin, on the other hand, expressed his admiration for Jodie, stating that he is a huge fan of hers. He credited her role in the TV show Peep Show for helping him through “breakups and everything.” He also praised her acting skills and mentioned that he was excited to get to know her better.
The conversation then shifted to their work together. Jodie and Austin discussed their rehearsal process for their roles as Elvis and his manager Colonel Tom Parker in an upcoming production. Austin shared that he spent a year and a half preparing for the role, studying footage of Elvis and meticulously observing every detail, even down to the microphone lead. However, he mentioned the challenge of striking a balance between being specific about the character and allowing the performance to feel organic.
To demonstrate his dedication to the role, Austin performed a few dance moves from Jailhouse Rock, an iconic Elvis song. Jodie jokingly expressed her desire to learn his Side Wind move, to which Austin offered to teach her.
During the show, Jodie’s recent Bafta win for her role in Killing Eve was also celebrated. She revealed that her parents took her award back to Liverpool and took it on a pub crawl, documenting the journey along the way. Jodie expressed her happiness at having the award at home, jokingly remarking that it’s a little stained from the festivities.
Towards the end of the segment, Austin shared his experience working with Tom Hanks on a previous project. He admitted to feeling nervous about meeting someone he had admired for a long time but was relieved when Tom warmly embraced him and made him feel at ease. They ended up having a long conversation, bonding over their shared fears and experiences as actors.
In closing, Jodie and Austin’s appearance on The Graham Norton Show was filled with entertaining anecdotes and lively discussions about accents, transformations, and their respective careers. It was a delightful glimpse into the lives of these talented celebrities, leaving viewers thoroughly entertained.
