Jodie Comer
(Picture: PA Wire)ACTOR Jodie Comer was thrilled to win a The Stage Debut award for her role in show Prima Facie on Sunday night, saying she had once thought theatre was “something I wasn’t educated in enough to do” as she didn’t go to drama school.
Comer, who starred in the show at the Harold Pinter theatre earlier this year, said in a speech accepting the prize for Best West End Debut Performer: “I remember so clearly my disbelief when seeing the Prima Facie script in my inbox. I was confused as to why it had been sent to me and questioned whether I had to ability to execute something that felt so important and mighty.”
“Having not been to drama school, this self-doubt was an insecurity I carried with me for a very long time and it was only because I was met with the most generous and supportive group of people that I was able to run at this opportunity and give it everything I had.”
She added: “As someone who has spent a lot of their life feeling like theatre was unattainable, or something I wasn’t educated in enough to do, this acknowledgement feels like a very warm welcome. So thank you for this support. It means more than you know.”
Comer grew up in Liverpool, attending a drama school for kids at the weekends. As a teen, she won an award at Liverpool Performing Arts Festival in 2006, and later a teacher at her school suggested she auditioned for a BBC Radio 4 play, which became her first job. The Killing Eve star has since won two BAFTAs and an Emmy. Prima Facie, which has broken records for event cinema after showings on screens around the country, is going to Broadway next year.
Comer’s words were read by a stage manager for the show, Georgia Bird, the actress was unable to attend the ceremony, which was held at 8 Northumberland Avenue in Central London.
Also at the awards, Julia Cheng won best Creative West End Debut for her work on Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre, Tyrell Williams won best writer for Red Pitch at the Bush Theatre, and Elisabeth Gunawan won Best Performer in a Play for Unforgettable Girl at Voila! Festival, London.
Host Susan Wokoma got laughs as she said The Stage magazine brought the Spice Girls together. The group once said they all read a classified ad in the mag which led them to audition.
