This year’s Emmys highlighted the takeover of British television among popular shows. Of the many shows honored at the Emmys, two in particular have a common thread: Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Both “Fleabag” and “Killing Eve” took home some of the night’s greatest honors, winning “Best Comedy” and “Best Lead Actress” respectively. Waller-Bridge not only is the star of Fleabag, but also a creator and writer of “Killing Eve.” VALLEY is here with the scoop on one of Hollywood’s newest rising stars and the award-winning series she is a part of.
Starting out as a one-woman play, Waller-Bridge’s performance led “Fleabag” to be quickly adapted into a series on Amazon Prime Video. With only two seasons (making it easily binge-watchable), Waller-Bridge’s portrayal of an unnamed protagonist referred to as Fleabag will be sure to make you laugh. Centered around a woman living in London who owns a guinea pig-themed café and has complicated relationships with both her family and partners, “Fleabag” is marked by quick-witted, dark humor and hilarious moments where the protagonist turns to make comments to the audience. Waller-Bridge is the lead actress, creator and writer of “Fleabag,” taking home three Emmys for her work on the series.
“Killing Eve” is yet another Emmy-winning series that Waller-Bridge both developed and wrote. Lead actresses Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer star in the series that centers around a British intelligence operative (Oh) and a psychopathic serial killer (Comer) who develop a complicated romantic relationship. Comer was awarded the Emmy for lead actress in a drama for her portrayal of Villanelle that leaves you wavering between utter fear and a strange admiration. If you’re looking for an action-packed and suspenseful drama, season one of “Killing Eve” is available on Hulu and the second season is available on BBC America.
While both series are vastly different in genre and subject matter, the influence of Waller-Bridge has helped lead them to widespread success and acclaim. Both “Fleabag” and “Killing Eve” center around highly complex female protagonists that take hold of viewers’ attention. From comedy to drama, Waller-Bridge’s work in television is wide-spanning and will only continue to leave an impact. If you’re looking for a new series to be hooked on, Waller-Bridge’s work is a great place to start.
