Kenneth Branagh Calls Jodie Comer ‘The Young Meryl Streep’—Predicts Massive Career Ahead

Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we may have found our next Meryl Streep, and Kenneth Branagh agrees. The legendary director recently praised Jodie Comer after working with her on the upcoming psychological thriller, “The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde.”

Branagh, known for his work on Academy Award-winning film “Belfast,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” and “Hamlet,” spoke with The Times about his experience directing Comer in the film. He called her performance electrifying, saying her career trajectory was unstoppable and only beginning.

“I consider myself fortunate to have worked with her at this stage in her career,” Branagh said. “As somebody once said of the young Streep, ‘I wish I had shares in her future.’”

Comer Responds With Classic Humor 

Comer, ever humble and cheeky, brushed off the Streep comparisons with a laugh. “Oh, me? I’m nothing like Meryl! I’m just a girl from Liverpool,” she told The Times. “He’s very kind, bless him.”

While Comer may downplay the praise, it’s clear the admiration is mutual. Back in May 2024, it was announced that Comer had been cast as the lead in “The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde.” She joined several other A-list actors, including Michael Sheen, Patricia Arquette, Tom Bateman, Karla Crome, Vicky McClure, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Gemma Whelan, and Michael Balogun. Though plot details remain under wraps, Branagh hinted that her role required “a dark night of the soul, reckless emotional exposure, volatility.” 

Creepy!

Branagh also described Comer as “hungry.” But, don’t worry, it was a word she welcomed. “Probably. I like a bit of hard work. It’s a space I like to be in, that I don’t feel I fully understand, or I ever really will,” she explained. However, she also criticized the awards-season trend of glamorizing suffering. “There does seem to be a real fashion to see how much you can torture yourself. And you can see it a lot when it comes to campaign season,” she said. “It becomes, ‘How far has everyone gone? How much has everyone given?’ And that’s not something I can connect with personally.”

From ‘Killing Eve’ to a Killer Career So Far

For anyone unfamiliar, Comer first shot to stardom playing the iconic assassin Villanelle in BBC America’s “Killing Eve,” alongside Sandra Oh. It was a role that won her an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and two BAFTA TV Awards in 2019. 

She also broke out into the theater world, successfully winning an Olivier and a Tony Award for her one-woman performance in “Prima Facie.”

Since then, she’s proven herself in film, starring alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel” and later with Austin Butler, AKA Elvis, and Tom Hardy in “The Bikeriders.” Most recently, Comer made waves at the red carpet premiere of “28 Years Later,” the long-awaited sequel to “28 Days Later.”

The 32-year-old now continues to stretch her range and style, both on screen and off. Her appearance alongside “28 Years Later” co-star Aaron Taylor-Johnson this week drew headlines, not just for their performances, but for their impeccable fashion sense.

Big Shoes to Fill, but She’s Already Running

To be compared to Streep is no small feat. Streep has racked up three Academy Awards, a record 21 nominations, three Emmys, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a laundry list of lifetime achievement awards. It would be very overwhelming to even type. Currently, she stars in Hulu’s award-winning comedy, “Only Murders in the Building,” alongside Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin. 

With Comer’s rapid rise across stage, film, and TV, Branagh may be onto something. As she continues promoting her latest films and working on upcoming projects, it’s clear Comer isn’t just having a moment. She’s building a legacy.

And if Branagh wants shares in her future, the rest of us might want to invest our attention too.

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