Kaya Scodelario has revealed that she had reached out to Maya Jama before the presenter’s acting debut in Netflix’s “The Gentlemen”.
The actress said that she wanted to give Jama some details of the unpredictable working style of director Guy Ritchie.
Kaya Scodelario slid into Maya Jama’s DMs to tell her to “be on her toes” ahead of filming the Netflix crime drama
As a fellow actress, Scodelario wanted to prepare Jama for what lay ahead. She also intended to provide support for someone entering a new phase in her career.
Jama is joining the hit show “The Gentlemen” as Aisha. Scodelario returns as Susie Glass, a central role in the drama.
According to Grazia, Scodelario contacted Jama before the second season. She explained that she wanted to give her costar some inkling of the experience of working with Guy Ritchie. The director is known for making sudden changes to dialogue and scenes. His unpredictable nature requires actors to adapt on the spot.
“I just said, ‘Hey, babe, heads up! This is going to not be what you expect. Be ready to be on your toes and trust the process,’” Scodelario said.
She also said that switching professions may be overwhelming: “I knew how intimidating it is stepping into a new part of your career and coming from a working class background. I just wanted her to know that I’m a girls’ girl.”
Scodelario also mused on her own journey in the entertainment industry. She was cast in “Skins” at 14. At 16, she left home with “£36.50” in her bank account. Today, she has built an international career with roles in franchises including “The Maze Runner”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, and “Resident Evil”.
Jama, meanwhile, described The Gentlemen as a “safe entrance point” into acting after landing the role following an audition process.
