IN CONVERSATION WITH RUTH BRADLEY
interview by JANA LETONJA
Ruth Bradley returns this autumn in the highly anticipated fifth season of Apple TV+’s Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning spy thriller ‘Slow Horses’, premiering on 24th September. Praised for her standout performance as MI5’s formidable new Head Dog, Emma Flyte, Ruth has quickly become a commanding presence in one of television’s most critically acclaimed dramas. With ‘Slow Horses’ continuing its weekly run through October and a new, currently unannounced project on the horizon, Ruth remains one of Ireland’s most dynamic and versatile acting talents.
coat MAJE
tights WOLFORD
boots GIANVITO ROSSI
bangle 886 BY THE ROYAL MINT
You’re returning as Emma Flyte in ‘Slow Horses’ Season 5, this time opposite Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas. What can audiences expect from Emma’s journey this season?
This season, audiences can expect a slightly more humble, grounded version of Emma. In Season 4, she started out extremely confident, maybe even a little cocky, but she had a really rough 24 hours. She learned some tough lessons and has come back as a more stripped-back, down-to-business version of herself.
Season 4 was widely praised, with critics calling your performance as Head Dog excellent. What did stepping into that leadership role within the MI5 universe mean for you as an actor?
It was kind of perfect, really, because I was stepping into the role of Emma in Season 4 just as Emma was stepping into the role of Head Dog in MI5. So, it was a beautiful, simple bit of kismet that we were both doing similar things in our respective jobs.
The show is known for its razor-sharp writing and high-stakes tension. How do you prepare for a role that blends psychological depth with spy drama?
I think it’s all about the script. The script is the bible, and if it’s strong enough, you can do anything. I don’t need to play the genre, because the dialogue is so well written and the story so well drawn. What’s brilliant about ‘Slow Horses’ is that these are just characters in a very well-defined world. We just need to approach it from a human perspective and play it with conviction. Hopefully, that all comes across on screen.
With ‘Slow Horses’ earning Emmy and BAFTA recognition, does the critical acclaim add pressure or motivation as you continue in the role?
It’s just lovely. So often in this line of work, you do something you’re passionate about and for whatever reason, it doesn’t hit or it doesn’t touch people. I can never put my finger on what that alchemy is, something in the collective unconscious or something people are looking for at that given moment. But the critical acclaim and awards recognition feels just as lovely as someone coming up in the street and saying “I love Slow Horses.” It doesn’t add pressure, it just feels supportive.
You’re a three-time IFTA winner. What does that kind of recognition mean to you personally, especially coming from your home country?
It’s so lovely to be recognised by your peers, so awards like the IFTAs feel like a warm hug. I think awards in general feel that way to me. It’s always really nice to go home for the IFTAs because I haven’t lived there in a long time, and I get to meet up with old friends, have great chats, and celebrate each other.
You’ve played a wide range of roles across genres. What drew you to the world of espionage in ‘Slow Horses’?
What drew me to ‘Slow Horses’ was the dialogue initially. It was just brilliant, and I really wanted to speak those lines. And then the scripts, the story, were so well drawn. It was such a rollicking good read, that season I came in on, Season 4. Again, I tend not to see the genre at first, I just see the script. The genre only really hits me later, when I stop to think about what I’m in.
Do you see any of yourself in Emma Flyte, or is she a complete departure from who you are off-screen?
I think with any character I play there’s always a germ of me in there, big or small depending on the role. To play anyone with conviction, you need to find something that resonates with you, something that makes sense within the character. I can’t say how much of me is in Emma, but at face value, I’m nothing like her.
Somebody recently said to me “It’s so nice to meet you in real life, you’re not as scary as Emma Flyte.” That was really interesting to me, because I never saw her as scary, but that’s obviously something that comes across. Characters touch people in different ways. But I certainly don’t think I’m scary in real life, I hope not.
How has your approach to acting evolved over the years, especially now with roles that demand both authority and emotional nuance?
I guess my approach has evolved in that life has changed it. My preparation is different now. I think I have a little more faith in the process. I’m less rigid, I allow it to flow more. I step back, let it breathe, and that actually makes for better work.
I also have more fun the longer I do it. Having fun, whether it’s drama or comedy, whatever the genre, means you’re freer and looser, which allows you to be present in the moment. And that’s really what it’s all about.
With projects like ‘Slow Horses’ reaching global audiences, how do you navigate choosing your next role? Is there a balance between artistic instinct and career strategy?
That’s a good question. I don’t really have a career strategy. I don’t have a five-year plan or anything like that. For me, it’s important to wait for something that strikes a chord, something that resonates, whatever that may be. I can never put my finger on it, but I know it when I see it, usually within two pages of reading a script.
No matter where you are in your career, if you can be lucky enough to wait for that, that’s the thing to do. Career strategy has never really worked out for me. What works best is basically artistic instinct.
You’re currently filming an unannounced project. Can you tease anything about the role or the kind of story you’re working on?
I can say that it’s based on a book and is absolutely beautiful. It was one of those scripts that I knew, within two pages, that I had to do. It’s a gorgeous cast, really moving, and I hope it will be beautiful, but I think that’s all I can say for now.
TEAM CREDITS:
photography DAVID REISS
styling MARY-ANNA KEARNEY
hair stylist SVEN BAYERBACH at Carol Hayes Management using hair by Sam Mcknight
makeup SAM COOPER at Carol Hayes Management
interview by JANA LETONJA
