Jodie Comer has added another accolade to her impressive resume: a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.

The 30-year-old actress won the prestigious award for her role in Prima Facie, a one-woman play by Suzie Miller that explores the legal system and sexual assault from the perspective of a female barrister.

In this article, we will look at Comer’s achievement and Jodie Comer Movies and tv shows and what makes Prima Facie such a powerful and relevant piece of theatre.

What is Prima Facie?

Prima Facie is a play that tells the story of Tessa, a successful defence lawyer who specialises in rape cases. She believes in the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof, until she becomes a victim herself. She then has to face the harsh reality of the justice system and its biases against women who report sexual violence.

The play is written by Suzie Miller, an Australian playwright and lawyer who was inspired by her own experience of being sexually assaulted and finding no legal recourse. She wanted to create a play that would challenge the audience’s assumptions and raise awareness about the flaws and inequalities of the legal system.

Prima Facie premiered in Sydney in 2019 and won several awards, including the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Playwriting. It transferred to London’s West End in 2021, where it received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It then moved to Broadway in 2022, where it was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Play.

How did Jodie Comer prepare for the role?

Jodie Comer is best known for her Emmy-winning role as Villanelle, a psychopathic assassin, in the hit TV series Killing Eve. She has also starred in several films, such as The Last Duel, Free Guy and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. However, Prima Facie marked her first time performing on stage.

Comer said that she was drawn to the role of Tessa because of the complexity and intensity of the character and the script. She said that she felt a responsibility to portray Tessa with dignity and respect, and to honour the stories of survivors of sexual assault.

To prepare for the role, Comer did extensive research on the legal system and spoke to lawyers and barristers who deal with rape cases. She also worked closely with Miller and director Justin Martin to understand Tessa’s journey and emotions. She said that playing Tessa was challenging but rewarding, as she learned a lot about herself and the world.

What did Jodie Comer say in her acceptance speech?

Jodie Comer won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play at the 2023 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 11) at the United Palace Theatre in New York City. She beat out fellow nominees Laura Linney, Mary-Louise Parker, Audra McDonald and Ruth Wilson.

Comer was visibly emotional as she accepted her award and thanked Miller, Martin, her co-producer Benedict Cumberbatch, her understudy Sarah Goldberg, her family, friends and team. She also dedicated her award to every person who feels represented by Tessa.

This woman in this play has been my greatest teacher,” Comer said. “I have to thank Suzie Miller for that, who wrote this magnificent piece. Without her writing that [I] would not be here so this feels just as much Suzie’s as it is mine.”

She added: “To every person who feels represented by Tessa, this has been my greatest honour.”

Who is Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer is an English actress who was born on 11 March 1993 in Liverpool.

She is known for playing Villanelle in the spy thriller series Killing Eve, for which she won a British Academy Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

She also starred in the films Free Guy and The Last Duel in 2021. She made her West End theatre debut in 2022 and won an Evening Standard Theatre Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.

Jodie Comer Movies List

• The Last Duel (2021) as Marguerite de Carrouges
• Free Guy (2021) as Millie/Molotovgirl
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) as Rey’s mother
• England Is Mine (2017) as Christine
• The White Princess (2017) as Elizabeth of York
• Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2015) as Ivy Bolton

She also has some upcoming movies, such as:

• The End We Start From (post-production)
• The Bikeriders (post-production)
• Alone in the Dark (2023) as Emily Hartwood (voice)

Conclusion

Jodie Comer is one of the most talented and versatile actors of her generation. She has proven her ability to play a wide range of characters on screen and on stage, and has earned critical acclaim and recognition for her work. Her Tony Award-winning performance in Prima Facie is a testament to her skill and passion as an actor, and to the importance and relevance of the play itself. She is definitely an actress to watch out for in the future.