By
Stephanie Fuchs
Photography by
Roni Ahn
Styling by
Yeon You

Hair by Kieron Lavine at Nylon Artists. Makeup by Kelly Cornwell at Nylon Artists. Photographer’s assistant: Shi Qian. Stylist’s assistant: Nakta Park.

Sophie Rundle Reflects the Female Experience Across the Ages


Romance can be difficult with a hundred layers of Victorian fashion between you and your partner—something the English actor Sophie Rundle knows very well from experience. Since her career began, the 31-year-old Rundle has always taken a special interest in period pieces, admitting that she “loves the dress up because it really feels like acting,” with detailed costuming providing the separation between herself and her character so that she can immerse herself in an entirely different world. It is no surprise then that her big break was in the hit gangster drama Peaky Blinders as Ada Shelby—a Communist, mother, and sister to criminal masterminds in post-World War I England. Since then, Rundle has traded her flapper dress for a corset and huge sleeves in Gentleman Jack as Ann Walker, the real-life love interest of history’s “first modern lesbian,” Anne Lister. Despite the sharp contrasts between these eras and stories, Rundle brings a consistent authenticity to her performances that showcases a refreshing yet accurate female perspective on different historical events, transcending the past to empower her audience in the present.

Even from a young age, Rundle knew that her calling was to be an actress, “much to the dismay of my teachers and parents,” she jokes. Her favorite part of the week growing up in the south of England was the time she spent at drama club with many of her now lifelong friends. It was there that she began to foster her natural talent and her determination to pursue acting as a career. Her skills, paired with years of hard work at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, made her transition from student to professional look effortless: In 2012, just freshly graduated, she was cast as Ada in BBC Two’s Peaky Blinders, a job she still can’t quite believe she got.

Set in Birmingham, England, in the Twenties, Peaky Blinders follows the story of a family gang led by Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, whose ambition to elevate the family’s authority and influence places everyone in impending danger. Distracted and under immense pressure due to a stolen cache of arms meant for Libya, Thomas was unaware in the first season that his sister Ada was secretly dating Freddie Thorne, played by Iddo Goldberg, a Communist activist with whom he served during the war. Initially far removed from the family business, Ada spends much of her free time with Freddie and is greatly influenced by his political ideologies. However, their shared secret surfaces when Ada becomes pregnant with their son Karl, named after Marx. Furious, Thomas threatens to kill Freddie, who in turn refuses to be chased out of town. Defiant and in love, Freddie marries Ada, which only increases the tensions with Thomas, who is struggling to keep his personal and professional life under control.

Coat by A.W.A.K.E Mode. Dress by Jaden Cho. Top by Supriya Lele. Trousers by Loewe. Shoes and brooch by Toga.

This conflict is only just the beginning of the Shelby family’s struggle for power and love. Since its release, Peaky Blinders has garnered critical acclaim through all of its four seasons, with production on number five currently underway. Rundle will return to continue as Ada but admits that it took some time to get comfortable with the role at first due to her inexperience in film. “RADA is one of the best drama schools in the world and they give you this amazing training, but you can’t really equip someone for what it’s like being on set,” she explains. “It was such a different world and I had no idea what I was doing. I felt like I had to start over from the beginning and learn what everything was, what I was doing on set, how that was translating onto the camera, and the whole lifestyle really. It’s a fun lifestyle, but it’s difficult. You travel a lot and the hours are really long and you’ve got to learn how to keep your stamina up. So it was a huge change from being a student, but I loved it.” One of the biggest lessons Rundle has learned during her time on the show is to be brave with her decisions as an actor, an approach that not only applies to Ada but to all her roles. “The reason that show is so good is because Helen McCrory, Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, and all the others make such cool choices and it elevates their characters, giving them this sense of theatricality that I think people really respond to,” she elaborates. “So that’s what Peaky’s has taught me: to always come to work engaged and fueled by an idea, but be adaptable when you get there.”

As Rundle explores other characters and branches out from Peaky Blinders—including in last year’s breakout thriller Bodyguard as Vicky, the wife of Richard Madden’s eponymous war veteran—it’s clear that she takes a special interest in period dramas and her new show, Gentleman Jack, is no exception. The series, which aired earlier this year on HBO and is currently running on BBC One, is based on the diaries of real-life historical figure Anne Lister, played by Suranne Jones, who lived in Halifax, West Yorkshire, during the early 1800s. Anne boldly flourished as a landowner and entrepreneur, going against all the gender norms of her time. However, what makes her story even more incredible was her bravery to live openly as a lesbian. Within the pages of her heavily coded diaries is a record of all the romantic and sexual relationships she had with different women in her pursuit of a wife to settle down with. Gentleman Jack explores Anne’s budding romance with Rundle’s character Ann, a wealthy heiress who struggles with anxiety and depression. At first, Anne only begins her relationship with Ann out of boredom but surprises herself when she begins to realize how deep her feelings actually run. As her love continues to grow, Anne urges Ann to commit to her as her wife, but the latter is paralyzed by her fear of social and religious persecution. With patience and tenderness, Anne helps guide Ann to self-acceptance and happiness.

All clothing by Richard Malone. Bag by Marge Sherwood. Headband by Simone Rocha.

What stands out for Rundle about Gentleman Jack is how emotionally honestly and insightfully the characters are written, which is what she says got her so excited about the project in the first place. She gushes over Sally Wainwright, the show’s writer and director, describing how her fierce, unapologetic attitude really comes through in her characters. “They say things that we’re really not used to hearing women say, particularly women in period dramas,” Rundle explains. “I love that hint of modernity about it and that rock and roll thing that Sally has where she really doesn’t give a fuck what people think. So many scripts get sent my way and they’re just disappointing because they’re rehashing really outdated ideas of what women think and how women speak and Sally’s scripts are nothing like that.” The refreshing nature of Wainwright’s writing gave Rundle a chance to explore Ann’s enormous journey and complex nature with intelligence and empathy.

However, approaching Ann’s character with authenticity came with its difficulties, as her struggles with sexuality and mental health were emotionally demanding. Rundle admits that as much as she was up for the challenge, by the end of shooting she was absolutely exhausted. “I’m not particularly method but you do give something of yourself and you do sit side by side with your character while you’re playing her, especially when it’s something that requires a prominent level of authenticity and truthfulness,” she explains. “This story, Sally’s scripts, and the fact that these are real women means you can’t just phone it in or be vague about it. It requires you to be authentic and to relate. It demands that you relate to your character and the story. So that was difficult because it’s very hard to switch off. Your brain gets really confused because you’ve just spent all day crying.” For Rundle, the key to getting through those difficult scenes was to be precise about the nuances of Ann’s experiences so that when she got home she could separate herself from her character and unwind with a nice glass wine while watching something lighthearted like Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Dress by Loewe. Lace dress by Shrimps. Hat by J Smith Esquire.

Challenges aside, Gentleman Jack has been a wonderfully rewarding experience for Rundle. “I feel really proud to be a part of something that brings Ann Walker back into cultural awareness. I think she is someone we should be incredibly proud and respectful of,” she says. “She was so nearly eradicated from history because her family was so ashamed of her, but I’m proud to have played a part in giving her dignity back and giving her the admiration I think she deserves.” With responses for the show rolling in, Rundle can’t help but feel even more pride in her portrayal of Ann, as so many are coming from gay women who are thrilled to see themselves portrayed accurately on screen in a mainstream way. Still, the actor hopes that Ann’s story incites empathy in all kinds of people, teaching them what it means for someone to grapple with her sexuality as well as what it means to deal with the shame that society puts on the LGBTQ+ community.

Regardless of what time period Rundle finds herself in, she will continue to play roles that authentically reflect female lives and issues. “I only want to play characters where I can support how they are represented,” she adds. “It’s easier said than done sometimes, but going forward, I want to be playing women that audience members can learn something from.” Historical records often reflect the male perspective and emphasize the importance of influential male leadership, but when the perspective shifts to the oppressed, history can be completely transformed. Rundle’s performances show how enriching and refreshing it is to witness history through the female lens and, in the context of Gentleman Jack, the lens of a gay woman. Brimming with honesty and emotional intelligence, Rundle brings the past into the present and dares audience members to empower each other so that everyone can be celebrated and rise up together. No matter which decade’s fashion she dons, her insight into the female experience makes her timeless.

Gentleman Jack continues on Sundays on BBC One.

Jacket by Loewe. Top by Asai. Trousers by A.W.A.K.E Mode. Shoes by Arket. Earrings by Toga.





By
Stephanie Fuchs
Photography by
Roni Ahn
Styling by
Yeon You

Hair by Kieron Lavine at Nylon Artists. Makeup by Kelly Cornwell at Nylon Artists. Photographer’s assistant: Shi Qian. Stylist’s assistant: Nakta Park.

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