When one of Hollywood’s most respected, Kenneth Branagh, compares you to Meryl Streep, you’ve made it.
Table of Contents
Kenneth Branagh’s Compliment
While speaking to the British newspaper ‘The Times’, Branagh gave perhaps the biggest compliment in showbiz.
Talking about working with Comer in his upcoming psychological thriller “The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde”, he said something that would make any actor blush.
“I consider myself lucky to have worked with her at this stage of her career,” Branagh said.
Then came the real bombshell: “As someone once said about the young Streep, ‘I wish I had shares in her future.'”
Wow! What bigger compliment could there be!
Comer stays grounded
How did Comer react to being compared to the 21-time Oscar-nominated actress? Totally effortless, with a classic British insider vibe.
“She’s very kind … God bless her,” she replied when asked about Branagh’s comments.
At 32, Comer has already built a resume that many actors would kill for.
But unlike some stars who let fame go to their heads, she seems genuinely down to earth.
From Villanelle to Hollywood powerhouse
If you’re wondering why Branagh is so impressed, just look at Comer’s career path.
She broke out as psychopathic assassin Villanelle in “Killing Eve,” a role that earned her an Emmy and two BAFTA awards.
Since then, she’s conquered both stage and screen. She won Tony and Olivier Awards for her one-woman Broadway show “Prima Facie,” and made her mark alongside big stars like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in “The Last Duel.”
Right now, you can see her fighting zombies in Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later,” the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic horror film.
Work ethic without self-torture
While Branagh praised her work ethic, Comer admitted she loves the challenge. “I love the hard work.
It’s a place I like to be in that I don’t fully understand, or probably never will.”
But she also showed a refreshingly healthy attitude toward her work.
Unlike actors who brag about torturing themselves for roles, Comer maintains strong boundaries.
“It seems like there’s a real fashion to see how much you can torture yourself,” she said of awards season.
“It becomes, ‘How far has everybody gone? How much has everybody given?’ And that’s not something I can personally relate to.”
Perhaps it’s that balanced approach that will give her the longevity of her comparison point.
After all, Streep herself is going from strength to strength with recent roles in “Only Murders in the Building” and a wardrobe of awards that most actors can only dream about.