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Thomasin McKenzie addresses career change for Netflix’s Joy

BBG News

As a fan who has seen countless films and performances, I must say that Thomasin McKenzie‘s portrayal of Jean Purdy in “Joy” is nothing short of remarkable. The young actress managed to bring to life a woman who was not only older than herself but also largely overlooked by history.

In the new Netflix film “Joy,” Thomasin McKenzie made a unique milestone in her career by portraying a character who is older than herself.

The film features McKenzie portraying Jean Purdy, one of the key figures instrumental in the development of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) during the 1960s and 70s. Notably, Joy endeavors to bring attention to Jean, a historical figure who has often been overlooked.

Regarding how the movie might affect McKenzie’s acting career, it may signal a shift in the types of roles she might take on in the future.

She mentioned to Digital Spy that even though I appear young and could potentially act like someone in their early twenties for a while longer, this specific role was demanding as it spans the character’s life from age 23 to 33. Since I am currently 24 years old, portraying this character’s growth over a decade presented quite a leap for me.

Thomasin McKenzie addresses career change for Netflix's Joy

I’ve invested considerable time in perfecting that aged appearance, and hair styling, makeup, and costume have been essential elements. I also focused on my voice, and I’m confident I managed to convincingly portray the character. I believe this role could serve as a significant milestone, opening doors for directors to see my versatility.

Since Jean had mostly been overshadowed by her colleagues, Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards (who were advocating for Jean’s acknowledgement), it made it more challenging for McKenzie to investigate Jean’s contributions.

In lieu of having children of her own, McKenzie turned to a screenplay penned by Jack Thorne, co-created with Rachel Mason, along with some real-world investigations. (Jean died at 39.)

She remembered stating that she discovered where her friend resided in Cambridge, ventured to that location, peered at the residence from outside (not going inside as it was occupied), felt timid about knocking on the door, but managed to see the house, the street, and took a stroll around the area.

I traveled to Oldham, the location of the movie, and trod on the very paths that Jean, Bob, and Patrick might have walked together. I visited the site of their initial clinic. I put in a great deal of work to learn more about Jean and understand her better.

Thomasin McKenzie addresses career change for Netflix's Joy

Joy contains authentic clips showing the trio conducting lab work, as well as the historic moment of the world’s first “test tube baby,” Louise Brown, coming into existence.

From the videos and pictures taken during that period, McKenzie developed an impression or understanding of who Jean was.

She spoke gently, yet her intelligence shone through clearly, and she had a distinctly personal touch. In pictures, she wasn’t the main focus but rather blended into the background. It was evident that she wasn’t at ease in front of the camera; instead, she seemed to move aside a bit.

There were many clues about her identity that we had to piece together, and I am truly humbled to have portrayed Jean. I feel deeply honored for this opportunity.

Prior to the Netflix premiere of the movie, James Norton, McKenzie’s fellow actor, likewise shared his thoughts with Digital Spy regarding aspects he wished to steer clear of while embodying the character Robert Edwards.

Joy is out now in select UK cinemas and is released on Netflix on November 22.

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2024-11-18 17:49

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