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Jodie Comer has revealed that in order to prepare for her upcoming role in zombie apocalypse film 28 Years Later, she’s been studying Girls Aloud star Cheryl’s accent.
The Killing Eve actress, 31, was announced in April to be starring in the second sequel to the 2002 film 28 Days Later – and her character is from Newcastle.
Speaking to ELLE UK last month, Jodie revealed that she has been rewatching old videos of Cheryl as a judge on The X Factor to practice her Geordie accent.
Jodie is a master of accents, having stunned viewers with her ability to switch between a plethora of tongues and languages in her role as Villanelle in Killing Eve.
On Tuesday, Jodie was seen in character for the third film in the franchise, filming with returning director Danny – who was the helm of the 2002 original.
‘Danny [Boyle] just seems like such a confident, intuitive and intelligent director,’; she said of her upcoming North East-based role.
‘The original was so loved, so I’m trying not to think of that too hard. I’m not putting too much expectation on myself.’
Reprising his role from the first movie, Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy will return as Jim, joined by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Erin Kellyman and Jack O’Connell, with Danny Boyle returning as director.
Jodie, who will play a Geordie character in the post-apocalyptic flick, was spotted filming in the Northumberland countryside on Tuesday, in the first pictures of her in character.
The Liverpudlian star’s character appeared to be in a state of concern in the snaps, while a younger character was seen trying to keep hold of her arm.
Jodie wore a long cream cardigan over a tartan shirt as well as a floral, mud-stained dress, with white tights and light pink legwarmers.
It is Jodie’s second apocalyptic film in recent years, after her heartwrenching performance in the climate crisis drama The End We Start From.
Jodie starred as Mother in the movie adaptation of Megan Hunter’s novel which sees her character navigating motherhood for the first time during a terrifying apocalyptic flood.
The film, which was released in the UK in January, begins with Jodie giving birth before she embarks on an extraordinary journey of strength and resilience as she raises her baby during the first year of his life during the climate crisis.
She revealed that she was terrified when she began filming as she had to work with 15 different babies on set.
She told the BBC: ‘I started this process quite literally terrified.
‘My hands were visibly shaking when I met an eight-week-old on set. I was like, “Oh my god, what have I done?”
‘It’s one thing to act and think about everything else, but then actually being conscious of this precious little being and making sure that they’re safe.’
Jodie said she felt that during the process, she followed the arc of her character – as both herself and Mother began overwhelmed by motherhood but later settled in.
The film begins in London, detailing Woman’s and her partner R’s relationship – as well as showing her giving birth.
Rising waters mean Jodie’s character and R, played by Plebs actor Joel Fry, must flee their flooded home. However after heading to his parents’ house for shelter, lawlessness and further flooding mean they must continue to run.
Strict on-set rules mean infants can only be part of a scene for 20 minutes, so Jodie had to be comfortable acting with multiple babies – despite it being her first experience of close contact with children so young.
‘It was very eye-opening,’ she said. ‘A lot of my younger cousins have grown up now, so I haven’t spent a lot of time around young babies.’
