During an exclusive interview with Principle, the rising star discussed securing the role of Taylor, the dynamic on set, and where she wants to take her talents next. 

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You have made your debut in Season 3 of The Sex Life of College Girls as Taylor. How did you come to find this role? Was it offered to you or did you have to audition for it?

Oh, I mean, I definitely wish it could have been a situation of an offer, but no, I went through the classic stream of getting an email in my inbox from my agent, just being like, ‘Hey, I put you forward for this. They want you to audition. Are you interested?’ And I’d heard about the show previously. I tried to watch it many times, but being from the UK, I found that quite difficult when it initially came out. So when I saw that, I was like, ‘Oh, my god, I know this show. That’s so much fun. I would love to audition.’ So I sent off a tape and then about a month later, I got a call from my agent just being like, ‘Hey, they want to recall you. It’s very casual. Loads of people are auditioning, you don’t need to think twice about it. Just go in and do the Zoom.’ Because they were all in the States, I did a Zoom at like 7pm at night. When I jumped on the call and there were like 30 people staring at me. That was intimidating [laughs]. I was like, ‘Someone’s lied to me here.’ The audition was with them for like an hour and a half and then I put it to bed and didn’t think much of it. I didn’t think I was gonna hear anything for a wee while, and then the next day, my agent was like, ‘Babe, you got it!’ And I was like, ‘What? Sorry?!’ It was just a case of two auditions, which is wild. It all happened very quickly.

Latex Elissa Poppy / Pearls T Label

Wow, that’s quick! So, how long until you started filming?

I found out that I got the role at the end of January this year, and six weeks later I was on a flight on my way to LA. It was all dependent on whether I got my visa. I think they wanted me out there way earlier, but being from the UK, that wasn’t going to be the case. So, yeah, six weeks later I was on a flight. 

While you didn’t film for the role too long ago, you must just be waiting for it to come out now, especially since it’s your biggest role to date!

It comes out in the States in November and then I think in the UK a little later. Maybe in January. It’s not as big here [in the UK], which is unfortunate, but I think now that there’s going to be a British character in it, I hope that it draws people to watch it also. But, yeah I’m so excited for it to come out. I’m incredibly nervous. Like you said, this is my biggest role to date, so I think there’s a lot of anticipation with it and I think there is a subtle expectation for myself, but I’m just also trying to enjoy it. It already feels like it’s been three years since doing it and I stopped shooting maybe, like five months ago or something. So it’s actually quite a quick turnaround when you think about it. But, yeah, I’m just really excited for everyone to see it.

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Given the show’s global appeal, have you thought about how things might be different once it’s exposed to the world?

I think it’s a bit of a weird one. No is the answer and I’m quite happy to not have a real grasp on that just because you never know what’s gonna happen and how things are gonna be taken and what people’s opinion will be and what have you. I think it’s just a case of rolling with the punches and seeing how it goes and letting it flow naturally and with whatever that comes. I don’t want to give myself any expectation and I also think if I think about it on a global scale, I’m just gonna freak myself out.

Your character Taylor – Do you identify with her in any way?

For sure. I think we’ve got quite a few similarities and definitely some differences. Taylor, she’s very strong minded and opinionated and I’d like to think that I am kind of similar in that way. I think I’ve got a bit more of a softer approach than she does when it comes to giving her opinion. But actually, I learned a lot through her as well. One of my biggest takeaways from portraying her is that she’s really true to herself and she’s confident in that. As I’ve gotten older, I definitely feel like I’m steering more towards that direction. She is herself without having to appease other people, which is something that I think I need to learn. But there’s a lot of differences as well. I think she kind of walks into a room expecting the worst and I very much go in being like, ‘We’re all mates.’ We’re similar in a lot of ways, but also very different.

Blazer Noon by Noor / Latex dress Elissa Poppy / Gloves Elissa Poppy

How would you like to see her evolve? As the episodes continue during her first series, we see a softer side start to unveil.

Well, I think that kind of vulnerable side to Taylor has always been there. It’s just she hasn’t felt like she’s been in a safe enough environment to explore that side of herself. I think there’s a lot to uncover, especially from a fan’s perspective about her history and the reason why she is the way she is. I would love for that story to be told and explored in further seasons. People know that that harsher exterior is kind of a front and is kind of a defense. And I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to. I think there’s definitely moments in my life where I think I’ve gone in quite strong headed or abrasive or whatever. But truly, I’m just going through something myself. I think it’d be lovely to be able to explore the softer side of her and people understand her story.

What was it like being on set with a cast that had already worked together for two seasons? What was the dynamic like?

Oh god. It’s so funny to think about my kind of first day to where we were by the end of it because yeah, this was my biggest role and it was quite intimidating walking onto the Warner Bros set into a well oiled machine of people that have been working together for years. I think before I started I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s quite big.’ But everyone was super lovely and welcoming and very much took me under their wing and just instantaneously that evaporated and everyone was very close. You know, you’re there for 16 hours a day, you get to know each other very well. And so I’m very lucky to have this be my first kind of job and have that reaction and interaction with everyone.

Set Rue Agthonis / Shoes Realm / Earrings Retro Chic

Before booking acting roles, had you studied acting at school? Was it always your number one goal?

Oh god, yeah. Definitely. I went to drama school. I went to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama to study acting. But prior to that I always knew from an early age that I wanted to be a performer. Initially I wanted to be a singer. I trained in classical singing and that was very much what path I thought I was going to go down. And then I kind of dabbled with the idea of going into fashion and being a fashion designer or a journalist within that realm. But it kind of became very clear that that wasn’t what I was going to do. I realised I was going to focus on the more performance side of life. And then when I was like, maybe 15, 16, is when I realised that this was actually something that was a viable career option, and if I really wanted it, I needed to go for it. I did the whole audition circuit and all that jazz, and then over time, I was like, ‘Right, something needs to change because it isn’t working out in the way that I necessarily want it to.’ I’d had great opportunities in small roles and things like that, but I just felt like I needed a different energy. So I auditioned for drama school and got in, which was great, and then graduated last year. And kind of this kind of has all come off the back of that, which is really cool.

Does that mean a pop star era could still emerge in years to come?

Babes, never say never. You never know. It could very well. I mean, I write songs, but I think it’s just right now I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.

Latex Elissa Poppy / Pearls T Label

What do you think your sound would be?

I’m not going to become an opera singer, that’s for sure. I think I’d be more down the realm of kind of like indie rock, maybe a bit more Lana vibes. I mean, that’s all kind of still to be decided. I think I’ve just got a lot of lyrics. Music wise, not so much.

I look forward to your Norman Fucking Rockwell!

Thank you so fucking much!

What other roles would you love to take on next? Are you keen to do plays and musicals?

I would love to. Musical theatre has such a little place in my heart because that was kind of where I started my acting journey, I suppose. So I would love to do that. Even just before I got this role, I was auditioning for a musical theatre production and I actually thought when my agent was calling me to be like, ‘Hey, you’ve got this part,’ I thought she was calling me about that. Lo and behold, I didn’t get that. But that’s fine. When I went to drama school, my goal was to do a play at the Almeida Theatre, which is my local theatre and where I fell in love with it. But genre wise, I’d say I’m heavily influenced by the 60s and 70s era of life. I’d like to do a period piece maybe surrounded by that. I’m at that stage in my career where I’m like, put a script in front of me and I’ll do it.

You did a short film this year, playing Hailey in Diary of a Ghost. Tell me about that.

Oh my goodness, that was amazing. So Diary of a Ghost is a story centred around grief and the depression that can come with that and dealing with loss and kind of the solitude and feeling alone. And it is a really important, slightly neglected side of losing someone and understanding how you can retreat in yourself. It was a really rewarding experience. It was a super short shoot. You kind of didn’t have time to really think about it. And because it was so concentrated and the story is so harrowing, we were kind of just in this bubble of intensity and support for each other, if that makes sense. My character, Hailey, she’s a beacon of hope within that story. It’s about discovering how your friends and those that actually love you can help you through that time and if you allow that support, where you can end up. But that short story is based on an actual feature film that’s two hours long. Our hope is that that’s gonna get funding and hopefully become an actual movie. That would be amazing.

Blazer Noon by Noor / Latex dress Elissa Poppy / Gloves Elissa Poppy

2025 is around the corner – what are you manifesting next?

Peace, love, and happiness? I’m just kidding! Honestly, I’m just manifesting that I continue this positive journey and feeling good about myself and the work that I’m putting out. Hopefully, it’s going to stay on a steady incline and more exciting things will come.

The Sex Lives of College Girls is now streaming on HBO in the US. It will be available in the UK via ITVX in 2025.

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