Emma Corrin wants to move on from starring in period dramas full of “longing glances”.
The Crown star, who rose to prominence on the popular Netflix show playing the late Diana, Princess of Wales, said the goal was to be in shows or films now with “fast-paced, high-stakes dialogue”.
Citing HBO’s award-winning satirical drama Succession and the streaming giant’s celebrated medical drama The Pitt, Corrin told Variety: “I would love to do something like [those shows]... You don’t have time to be like, ‘Ooh, I might gaze over there for a scene’.
“I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want longing glances – no more longing glances!”
Corrin’s next big-screen role is a portrayal of Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennett in a “progressive” adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for Netflix.
The non-binary actor forms part of a diverse cast for the period drama, which was last adapted into a major film by Joe Wright in 2005, starring Oscar-nominated Keira Knightley in the role.
A source previously told The Sun that Dolly Alderton, the series’ screenwriter, is “very progressive and forward-thinking” and thought it would be a “brilliant move” to cast a non-binary star in the romantic lead.
Corrin came out as non-binary in 2021 and uses they/them pronouns. Discussing the upcoming series, which has already been filmed, the actor admitted to being a “massive Austen fan”.
Speaking to the magazine about stepping into the shoes of the leading part, Corrin explained: “I’m very daunted about it because of people’s completely natural love to compare things, which I also do, terribly.
“But I’m also incredibly excited. I had the best time. It was one of my favourite jobs that I’ve done.”
The new six-part series, directed by Heartstopper’s Euros Lyn, will bring the story to a new generation and was commissioned on the back of Netflix’s adaptation of Austen’s novel Persuasion in 2022.
Describing the experience, Corrin said: “We had so many women in our crew, which was very rare. And obviously, there were so many women in that cast.
“You just really feel the difference, energy-wise – you feel how special it is, but also the rarity means that there’s so much work to be done.”
Corrin, who is the first non-binary cover star to appear on Variety, said it was “a scary thing” when the cover offer first came in, but added: “I’m incredibly honoured to be the first non-binary person, and now more than ever it is so important for people – no matter how they identify – to be able to celebrate each other.”
The magazine is themed on “The Power of Women”. “It doesn’t have to be women celebrating the power of women – it can be women, queer, non-binary people celebrating the power of women,” Corrin said.
Corrin is not the first film star to express a desire to move on from period dramas. Jodie Foster previously insisted she was “done” with the genre because of its uncomfortable clothing.
The Anna and the King star, 63, said: “I’ve lost interest in the days of corsets and high heels. The last time I did a corset, it was in Malaysia and it was a hundred degrees every day.
“I had to wear leather shoes, a wig, a corset, two petticoats, a skirt on top of that, gloves, a whole outfit. I was just like, ‘That’s it. I’m done.’”
Elsewhere, Bridgerton star Simone Ashley has complained about the same issue, saying you “just don’t eat” while wearing one.
Other stars including Knightley and Emma Stone have also shared their struggles with the costume piece, with Knightley describing them as “positively awful” and Stone insisting she “couldn’t f---ing breathe” while wearing one for The Favourite.