Jodie Comer has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most versatile actors, moving effortlessly between psychological thrillers, historical dramas, comedy, and major Hollywood productions. Many viewers first discovered her as the unpredictable assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve, but her career includes an impressive range of performances on both television and the big screen.
If you are exploring Jodie Comer movies and TV shows, there is plenty to discover beyond her best-known role. She has played a determined young woman caught in a legal battle, a video game character who challenges her own fictional world, and a mother facing a public health crisis. Her work on stage has also earned widespread acclaim.
This guide covers her most notable films and television appearances, explains where to start, and highlights the performances that best demonstrate her range.
Who Is Jodie Comer?
Jodie Comer is an English actress born on 11 March 1993 in Liverpool, England. She began acting as a teenager, gaining experience through British television dramas before becoming internationally recognised.
Her early career included appearances in programmes such as The Royal Today, Holby City, Doctors, and Waterloo Road. These roles helped her develop the screen presence and emotional flexibility that later became central to her performances.
Her major breakthrough came with Killing Eve, the spy thriller that introduced her to a global audience. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Villanelle, a highly skilled assassin whose playful personality hides a dangerous and unpredictable nature.
Since then, Comer has balanced television, independent cinema, major studio films, and theatre. Rather than sticking to one type of character, she has continued to choose roles that challenge her in different ways.
Jodie Comer Movies and TV Shows: Her Best-Known Roles
The easiest way to explore Comer’s career is to start with the projects that made the strongest impression on audiences and critics.
1. Killing Eve (2018–2022)
<em>Killing Eve</em> is the defining television role of Comer’s career. She plays Villanelle, a stylish and merciless assassin who develops a complicated obsession with Eve Polastri, an intelligence investigator played by Sandra Oh.
The series combines espionage, dark comedy, psychological tension, and an unusual relationship between its two central characters. Comer gives Villanelle a distinctive mix of charm, humour, cruelty, and vulnerability.
Her performance earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. She also received a BAFTA Television Award for Best Leading Actress for the role.
For anyone interested in understanding why Comer became internationally famous, this is the best place to begin.
2. Help (2021)
In the television drama Help, Comer plays Sarah, a care home worker in Liverpool during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen Graham co-stars as Tony, a resident whose relationship with Sarah becomes central to the story.
The drama explores the pressure placed on care workers, the vulnerability of elderly residents, and the human consequences of institutional failures during the pandemic.
Unlike Villanelle, Sarah is an ordinary person struggling to do her job in extraordinary circumstances. Comer’s restrained, emotionally direct performance helps make the story feel personal rather than abstract.
Her work in Help earned her the BAFTA Television Award for Best Leading Actress in 2022. It is one of her strongest performances for viewers who prefer grounded, realistic drama.
3. Free Guy (2021)
In the action-comedy Free Guy, Comer plays Millie Rusk, a programmer who discovers that a popular video game contains an unexpected problem. Ryan Reynolds stars as Guy, a non-player character who begins to question the world around him.
Comer also appears as Molotov Girl, Millie’s in-game identity. The dual role allows her to show two contrasting sides of the same character: a determined programmer in the real world and a confident action hero inside the game.
The film mixes video game humour, action sequences, and a story about identity and free will. It is a good introduction to Comer’s work for viewers who want something lighter than her crime and psychological dramas.
4. The Last Duel (2021)
Ridley Scott’s historical drama The Last Duel features Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges, a woman whose accusation of sexual assault leads to a legal and personal conflict in medieval France.
The story is told through different perspectives, revealing how power, social expectations, and personal interests influence the events. Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Ben Affleck also star.
Comer’s performance is central to the film’s examination of Marguerite’s experience. She brings conviction and emotional depth to a character navigating a society that offers women little control over their own lives.
This is one of the more demanding entries in her filmography, particularly for viewers interested in historical dramas that explore questions of justice and authority.
5. The Bikeriders (2023)
In The Bikeriders, Comer plays Kathy, a woman whose life becomes intertwined with a Midwestern motorcycle club. Austin Butler plays Benny, her rebellious partner, while Tom Hardy portrays the club’s leader, Johnny.
Inspired by Danny Lyon’s photography book about motorcycle culture, the film examines belonging, loyalty, identity, and the changing nature of a group that begins to grow beyond its original purpose.
Comer’s character provides an important perspective on the club’s internal world. Kathy is not simply observing events from the sidelines; she has her own opinions, frustrations, and ambitions.
The film is worth watching for its period atmosphere and its exploration of relationships under pressure.
6. Prima Facie (2022)
Although Prima Facie is a stage production rather than a movie or television series, it is an essential part of Comer’s career.
She originated the role of Tessa Ensler in Suzie Miller’s legal drama, playing a criminal defence barrister whose understanding of the justice system changes dramatically after a personal experience.
The one-woman performance demands sustained concentration, rapid changes in character, and a close connection with the audience. Comer received exceptional acclaim for her work, winning the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2023.
The Broadway production also earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 2023.
If you are interested in her work beyond the screen, Prima Facie offers a powerful example of her ability to carry an emotionally complex story almost entirely on her own.
7. 28 Years Later (2025)
Comer stars as Isla in Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Years Later, the third instalment in the 28 Days Later franchise.
Set decades after the original outbreak, the film explores a society still shaped by the consequences of a devastating infection. The story combines horror, survival, family relationships, and questions about what remains of ordinary life after a catastrophe.
The film marks another major step in Comer’s screen career, placing her in a high-profile genre production directed by Boyle.
For fans of tense, unsettling cinema, it provides an opportunity to see her in a very different setting from Killing Eve or Free Guy.
Jodie Comer’s Television Shows
Before her international breakthrough, Comer spent years building her experience across British television. Her earlier roles are useful for understanding how she developed as a performer.
My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015)
Comer plays Chloe Gemell in this British coming-of-age comedy-drama, which follows teenager Rae Earl as she navigates friendships, relationships, and mental health challenges.
The series combines humour with difficult emotional subjects, capturing the uncertainty of adolescence without reducing its characters to simple stereotypes.
Although Comer is not the central character, the show is a valuable early example of her work in a contemporary ensemble drama.
Thirteen (2016)
In the BBC drama Thirteen, Comer stars as Ivy Moxam, a young woman who escapes captivity after being abducted as a child and held for 13 years.
Returning to ordinary life is only the beginning of her struggle. Ivy must reconnect with her family while dealing with suspicion, trauma, and the complicated consequences of her disappearance.
The role gave Comer a chance to lead a tense psychological drama. Her performance moves between apparent resilience and deep uncertainty, keeping viewers unsure how much of Ivy’s story they fully understand.
Thirteen is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys mystery-driven television with a strong central performance.
Doctor Foster (2015–2017)
In Doctor Foster, Comer plays Kate Parks, a younger woman whose relationship with a married man becomes part of a destructive personal conflict.
The series stars Suranne Jones as Dr Gemma Foster, a woman who begins to suspect that her husband is having an affair. As the truth emerges, the drama becomes increasingly tense and emotionally complicated.
Comer’s role is smaller than her later starring parts, but she contributes to the show’s exploration of jealousy, betrayal, and the damage caused by fractured relationships.
Rillington Place (2016)
This BBC crime drama examines the crimes of British serial killer John Christie, with Tim Roth playing Christie and Comer portraying Beryl Evans.
The series revisits a disturbing chapter of British criminal history, focusing on the people affected by the crimes and the failures that allowed the case to become so tragic.
It is a darker entry in Comer’s television work and may appeal to viewers interested in historical crime dramas rather than fictional spy thrillers.
The White Princess (2017)
In the historical drama The White Princess, Comer plays Elizabeth of York, a woman whose marriage to Henry VII is intended to help secure peace between rival factions in England.
The series blends historical events with fictionalised personal and political conflicts. Comer’s performance explores the tension between private feelings and the responsibilities imposed by royal life.
For viewers who enjoy period dramas, the series offers a different perspective on her acting style and her ability to inhabit a character shaped by political power.
Other Early Television Appearances
Before these prominent roles, Comer appeared in several British television productions, including:
- The Royal Today
- Holby City
- Doctors
- Waterloo Road
- Casualty
- Law & Order: UK
- Silent Witness
- Inspector George Gently
Some of these appearances were brief, guest roles rather than long-running parts. They are nevertheless useful viewing for fans interested in tracing her development from a young television actor to an award-winning international star.
Jodie Comer Movies: A Closer Look at Her Film Career
Comer’s film career demonstrates how comfortably she moves between genres. Her work includes historical drama, science fiction, horror, action, and contemporary stories about relationships and identity.
| Movie | Year | Role | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| England Is Mine | 2017 | Christine | Biographical drama |
| Free Guy | 2021 | Millie Rusk / Molotov Girl | Action comedy |
| The Last Duel | 2021 | Marguerite de Carrouges | Historical drama |
| The Bikeriders | 2023 | Kathy | Crime drama |
| The End We Start From | 2023 | Mother | Survival drama |
| 28 Years Later | 2025 | Isla | Post-apocalyptic horror |
England Is Mine (2017)
This biographical drama focuses on the early life of musician Morrissey before the formation of The Smiths. Comer plays Christine, a young woman in Morrissey’s social circle.
The film is a smaller, earlier project in her career, making it interesting for viewers who want to explore her work before she became a household name.
The End We Start From (2023)
In this survival drama, Comer plays a new mother trying to protect her infant as severe flooding disrupts life in Britain.
The film focuses less on spectacular disaster scenes and more on the intimate pressures of caring for a child while familiar systems and communities break down. Its restrained approach makes it a different kind of survival story from a conventional action film.
Comer’s performance anchors the story in the practical and emotional demands of motherhood, uncertainty, and displacement.
Why Her Film Choices Stand Out
Comer has not limited herself to roles that resemble Villanelle. Instead, her filmography includes characters who are vulnerable, determined, morally complicated, or simply trying to survive difficult circumstances.
That range is part of what makes her career interesting. A viewer who enjoys her work in Free Guy may discover a completely different performance in The Last Duel, while someone who appreciates her dramatic roles may find her comedy surprisingly effective.
What Is the Best Jodie Comer Movie or TV Show to Watch First?
The best starting point depends on what kind of story you enjoy. Her most famous projects showcase different aspects of her talent, so there is no single right choice for every viewer.
| If you enjoy… | Start with | Why watch it? |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological thrillers | Killing Eve | Her award-winning performance as Villanelle |
| Emotional, realistic drama | Help | A powerful story about care workers during the pandemic |
| Comedy and action | Free Guy | A lighter role with humour and science-fiction elements |
| Historical stories | The Last Duel | A serious examination of justice and power |
| Mystery and suspense | Thirteen | A tense drama built around a complicated disappearance |
| Post-apocalyptic horror | 28 Years Later | Her work in a major horror franchise |
| Character-driven survival stories | The End We Start From | An intimate story about motherhood and displacement |
For most new viewers, Killing Eve is the natural starting point because it showcases the qualities that made Comer internationally famous. However, Help is an excellent alternative if you prefer a shorter, emotionally grounded drama.
What Makes Jodie Comer Such a Versatile Actress?
One of Comer’s greatest strengths is her ability to change the emotional character of a performance without losing its natural quality.
Villanelle in Killing Eve is theatrical, playful, and frightening. Sarah in Help is much more grounded, responding to an overwhelming situation through small gestures and believable emotional reactions. Millie in Free Guy requires a different combination of intelligence, confidence, and comedy.
These differences demonstrate that Comer does more than adopt different appearances or accents. She adjusts her timing, body language, voice, and emotional intensity to suit each character.
Her theatre work reinforces that range. In Prima Facie, she sustained a demanding solo performance that depended on direct audience engagement rather than camera work or editing.
For viewers exploring her filmography, comparing two contrasting performances can be more revealing than watching several similar dramas in succession.
Awards and Career Achievements
Comer has received major recognition for her work in television and theatre. Her awards also help explain why she is regarded as more than a popular television star.
Some of her most notable achievements include:
- Primetime Emmy Award (2019): Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Killing Eve.
- BAFTA Television Award (2019): Best Leading Actress for Killing Eve.
- BAFTA Television Award (2022): Best Leading Actress for Help.
- Olivier Award (2023): Best Actress in a Leading Role for Prima Facie.
- Tony Award (2023): Best Actress in a Play for Prima Facie.
These honours recognise different aspects of her work, from screen acting to live theatre. Her success across these formats reflects a career built on performances rather than one defining character alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Jodie Comer’s most famous movies and TV shows?
Her best-known projects include Killing Eve, Help, Free Guy, The Last Duel, The Bikeriders, Thirteen, and 28 Years Later. Killing Eve remains her signature television role.
2. What is Jodie Comer best known for?
She is best known internationally for playing Villanelle, the charismatic assassin in Killing Eve. The performance earned her an Emmy and a BAFTA Television Award.
3. Did Jodie Comer win an award for Killing Eve?
Yes. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 and the BAFTA Television Award for Best Leading Actress in 2019.
4. Is Jodie Comer in Free Guy?
Yes. She plays programmer Millie Rusk and her in-game identity, Molotov Girl, opposite Ryan Reynolds.
5. What is Jodie Comer’s role in The Last Duel?
She plays Marguerite de Carrouges, whose accusation of sexual assault becomes central to the film’s exploration of justice, power, and medieval society.
6. Has Jodie Comer appeared on Broadway?
Yes. She made her Broadway debut in Prima Facie in 2023, reprising her acclaimed solo performance as Tessa Ensler. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play that year.
7. What are Jodie Comer’s best dramas?
Help, Thirteen, The Last Duel, and The End We Start From are strong choices. Each explores a different type of emotional pressure and gives her a distinct character to portray.
8. What is Jodie Comer’s latest major movie?
Among her major recent releases, 28 Years Later (2025) is a notable entry. For the newest announcements and upcoming projects, check current film listings and official production updates.
Final Thoughts
Jodie Comer’s career is a reminder that an actor’s most famous role does not have to define the limits of their talent. While Killing Eve introduced her to a worldwide audience, her work in Help, Thirteen, Free Guy, The Last Duel, and Prima Facie reveals a performer comfortable with very different characters and storytelling styles.
If you are building a watchlist of Jodie Comer movies and TV shows, begin with Killing Eve to see her signature performance, then watch Help for a more realistic drama and Free Guy for a lighter change of pace. Together, these projects provide a useful introduction to her range.
As her career continues, the most interesting question is not whether she can repeat the success of Villanelle, but which new characters she will choose to bring to life.
