Kaya Scodelario has revealed she reached out to her co-star Maya Jama to offer guidance ahead of Jama's acting debut in the crime drama "The Gentlemen." Jama, 32, is set to portray Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of the show's lead character, Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James. Scodelario, 34, reprises her role as Susie, the stylish daughter of a mobster involved in a marijuana empire.
Scodelario messaged Jama through direct messages to share her experience. "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 told Grazia magazine. She explained her motivation stemmed from understanding the intimidation of entering a new career phase, particularly for those from working-class backgrounds. "I just wanted her to know that I'm a girls' girl," Scodelario added.
Scodelario, who was raised by her Brazilian mother, feels a kinship with Jama, identifying them both as minorities within the industry due to their working-class roots. "I absolutely still feel like I am a minority as a working-class actor," Scodelario stated. "I'll be at a work dinner party and maybe one or two people will sound like me, but certainly not everyone else."
Scodelario began her acting career at 14 after being cast in "Skins" and left home at 16 with limited funds. Jama, who moved to London from Bristol at age 16, also highlighted her upbringing with scarce financial resources and no industry connections. She described her role in "The Gentlemen" as a "safe entrance point" into acting and, after a successful audition last year, worked with a drama coach to prepare.
The series "The Gentlemen," created by Guy Ritchie, proved to be a significant success in 2024, attracting 44 million views within its first four weeks. The trailer for the second season was released recently, ahead of its September 3 debut. The show has also been greenlit for a third season.
In other personal news, Scodelario recently became public with director Eran Creevy, two years after her divorce from Benjamin Walker. Creevy, 50, has directed two episodes of "The Gentlemen."