What it was like working with Stephen Fry?
He’s the most intelligent man I have ever met. I just love him. And he told me he loves Clueless! I was like ‘slay!’. He’s so generous and kind – he’s f*cking Stephen Fry, he doesn’t need to be giving me everything in a scene but he does and is so supportive. Biggest love for that man ever.
How was it playing a fantasy horror with Talk To Me vs a kind of real life horror of what we see in Everything Now, with illness and what Mia refers to as the horror of real life situations like love and family issues etc?
Yeah, it was interesting, because they were shot back to back. I guess fundamentally, you’re accessing the same points. Everything Now has the beauty of it being a comedy in a lot of ways. And it having this levity and these light moments and the awkwardness of being a teenager. I think it was actually really nice to kind of sit in trauma, but in a different way.
Would you say you get drawn to particularly mentally challenging parts – it’s said you had to go into a ‘fractured headspace’ for Talk To Me, and playing Mia can’t have been much easier.
Honestly, yes. I probably do. Maybe it’s a form of catharsis or something, being able to tap into these very dark places in a person? I think that just really excites me as an actor. You’re playing with the crux of what it means to be a person – and [be in] pain. I think I’m definitely drawn to that.
What have you found to be empowering in your life?
I think my female relationships have been the grounding force of my life – they have propelled me forward in so many ways. This job and this career can be lonely and hard, but I’ve always had them to ground me and to champion me and to teach me a myriad of life lessons. And I’m eternally grateful to have those people in my life.
The show explores so many areas of mental health, what have you found keeps your own mind grounded?
It’s doing the simple things. It’s sleeping, it’s exercising, it’s eating well. I feel like people always drill that into you, and you’re like, ‘well, it actually can’t be that simple’. And it’s not necessarily always that simple. But it’s actually insane how when you do those things, it can dramatically change your life.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play – you’ve said before you love period dramas, maybe Bridgerton, another Netflix hit?
I would love to be in Pride and Prejudice. That is my bread and butter, BBC Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth, I used to have that on VHS. and I have watched that 100 million times.
Let’s bring him in for a 2024 rendition.
I’d have to tap it out. I’d have to retire. I think if I met him I’d actually die! Me in a gown, a little hat. Smash. That’s what we need.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
Everything Now is available to watch now on Netflix.
If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s health, you can contact Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk.