Ready To Rundle

You’ve seen her in Peaky Blinders and Bodyguard, and now Sophie Rundle is starring in new BBC drama Gentleman Jack opposite Suranne Jones. Here, the actress talks to Sophie Goddard about working with the greats, sex scenes and awkward cab rides.

- Sophie Goddard

Thirty seconds into speaking to Sophie Rundle, we discover we went to the same after-school drama club in Bournemouth, and spend the next few minutes enthusing about it. ‘Oh god, I sound like such a wanker, but doing drama as a kid makes you much more confident and brave,’ she gushes. ‘It’s a real travesty that it’s considered an “extracurricular” thing. It’s vital for growing and developing, learning skills like proper eye contact, communication and speaking publicly. Some of my best friends now are from drama club,’ she adds, admitting that thinking about them is ‘making me homesick’.

It’s not surprising – there hasn’t been much time for trips back to the seaside lately. Now based in London with her actor and writer boyfriend Matt Stokoe (the couple are currently renovating their Victorian house together – see Instagram for updates), 31-years old Rundle’s career has positively skyrocketed since those drama-school days. Best known for her roles in Peaky Blinders (as Ada Shelby) and Bodyguard (as Vicky Budd), as well as credits on Jamestown, Episodes, Happy Valley and Call The Midwife, this month Rundle stars in Gentleman Jack, playing Ann Walker, the wealthy heiress Suranne Jones’s character sets her sights on marrying.