Jodie Comer — things you didn't know about the TV star

Jodie Comer attends the London Gala Screening of "The Bikeriders" at The Curzon Mayfair on June 11, 2024 in London, England.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

From working in a supermarket to turning down Strictly, here are some surprising facts about Bafta award-winning star Jodie Comer who's now appearing alongside Austin Butler and Tom Hardy in new Hollywood movie The Bikeriders

Liverpool-born actress Jodie Comer might only be in her early 30s, but she has crammed a huge amount of success into her young years.

She has become a household name thanks to playing serial assassin Villanelle in BBC drama Killing Eve, wowing fans with her amazing wardrobe and brilliant Slavic accent. She also appeared as a care home worker called Sarah, in Channel 4 drama, Help. Plus she has appeared in a string of movies including Bikeriders, Free Guy and The End We Start From (available on Netflix from June 19).

But what do we know about the actress? Here are several things you probably don't know...

Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer and Austin Butler attend the London Gala Screening of "The Bikeriders" at The Curzon Mayfair on June 11, 2024 in London, England

Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer and Austin Butler attend the London Gala Screening of The Bikeriders (Image credit: Getty Images)

Jodie Comer: little known facts about the actress... 

Jodie Comer turned down Strictly Come Dancing 

Strictly Come Dancing logo

Jodie turned down the chance to appear on Strictly. (Image credit: BBC)

Jodie revealed that after once being spotted in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing, she turned down the chance to appear in the following year's lineup. She told The Sun: "BBC bosses were like, 'Maybe next year, Jodie...?' and I was like, 'Mmm, no, I don't think so!' I'd embarrass myself definitely. I went with my mum and my nan because my nan is a Strictly superfan. It was a once in a lifetime thing for her so it was really fun."

Killing Eve wasn't her first TV role 

Killing Eve S3 group: Jodie Comer

Jodie appeared on numerous TV shows before joining the Killing Eve team. (Image credit: BBCAmerica/Sid Gentle Films/Paola Kudacki)

Jodie has a huge number of successful TV shows under her belt, and before becoming a household name in Killing Eve, a role for which she won a BAFTA, Jodie was probably best known for her role as Kate Parks in the hit drama Doctor Foster. She has also appeared in My Mad Fat Diary, The White Princess, and Thirteen. And very early in her career, she popped up in Holby City, Waterloo Road, Doctors, and Casualty. Her first-ever acting role was in a BBC Radio 4 play. Talking about when she first knew she wanted to be an actress, she told The Guardian: "I entered the Liverpool drama festival when I was 12. We were split into groups and everyone had to perform a monologue. I did a piece about the Hillsborough disaster and this young girl on the anniversary of her dad’s death at the football match. My dad hadn’t seen me act before, so he looked at me and said: 'Just do your best.' I remember his face so vividly after I’d finished. I got such a sense of gratification from making my parents proud. It really made me hungry."

Jodie Comer's got a very famous best friend 

Katarina Johnson-Thompson at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Jodie Comer is great friends with athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.  (Image credit: Getty)

As well as being a household name herself, Jodie's best friend is famous heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Jodie is immensely proud of her friend's sporting achievements and often shares how in awe she is of her friend on social media.

She's got a surprising guilty pleasure

While she isn't busy filming or learning lines for her latest role, Jodie likes nothing more than relaxing on the sofa and catching up with the latest drama in TOWIE. She is apparently a big fan of reality television and loves TOWIE and Real Housewives. She's also a fan of films and lists Billy Elliot and Forrest Gump among her favourites. Plus, she's a massive fan of pop legend Bruce Springsteen!

Dame Julie Walters is her dream co-star

Julie Walters

Jodie would love to star alongside acting legend Julie. (Image credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Jodie has revealed on numerous occasions that she has always wanted to star alongside Julie Walters, or failing being in the same production, Jodie has joked that perhaps Julie could play her in a movie of her life, instead.

Jodie Comer used to work in Tesco

Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham in Help

Jodie in her role as Sarah in Channel 4 drama, Help.  (Image credit: Channel 4)

Before finding fame as an actress, Jodie worked in Tesco as a supermarket checkout girl. She also spent a bit of time working in a bar collecting glasses before her acting career took off.

 

Jodie Comer's Fact File 

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Killing Eve actress....

How old is Jodie Comer?

Jodie Comer's age is 31. Her date of birth is 11th of March 1993.

Does Jodie Comer have kids?

Jodie Comer doesn't have any children.

Where was Jodie Comer born?

Jodie Comer's place of birth is Liverpool.

How tall is Jodie Comer?

Jodie Comer's height is 5ft 6.

Instagram: @jodiemcomer

We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.

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Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.