‘Patience’ Star Ella Maisy Purvis Previews ‘Brilliant’ Season 2

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What’s it been like working with your new co-lead, Jessica Hynes?

She’s so lovely. She comes from a comedy background, you know, we all just f**k about really, me and lovely Nathan Welsh and Mark Benton and Ali Ariaie, we just giggle, and she’s a giggler as well. She’s fantastic, and it’s such a different character, and she plays it so well. She gets that balance right ’cause it’s tricky. You don’t wanna be a villain, but we see this really gorgeous evolution of her character.

What is the dynamic between Patience and Jessica’s new character, Frankie Monroe?

It’s a bit spiky at first. It’s like two cats trying to work out what the other is about, and their tails are a little bit spiky. Patience isn’t naive; she knows what the world is like, and she knows that people treat her differently. So there’s this guard that she puts up, and we see her almost flourish because she becomes more in love with the work and determined about the work. I think at first, it’s just the distrust and “why is she here?” It’s not how things are done from Jessica’s character. It’s a bit like yin and yang. You got this really abrasive woman, and then Patience, who is like… she does everyone’s job and gets paid minimum wage. It works.

How would you compare that dynamic to the character she kind of replaced, Laura Fraser’s character, D.I. Bea Metcalf?

I think Frankie’s more… she doesn’t give Patience a chance at first, whereas Detective Metcalf does. And there’s immediately a dynamic of nurturing and a friendship. Whereas with Frankie, it takes a while. I think this season, they’re deeply affected by each other, and the new experience that meeting each other has brought.

Is there a certain scene in Season 2 that stands out to you or felt like a turning point for Patience?

They’ve used this quite a lot in the trailer in the U.K., but the bit where she’s like, “Don’t call me ‘Headphones.’ My name is Patience.” That’s in Episode 7, I think. That was a big turning point. But also, I’d say in Episode 1, we see her relentlessly trying to get through with this new information. And it sets a tone for Patience that she’s not gonna be deterred by this new change, even though it really rattles her. So immediately from the jump, we see how determined she is.

You said you’re currently filming Season 3, so is there anything you can share about the journey that Patience is going to go on in Season 3?

We find out more about her family and her mom and dad. And we really see the relationship with Elliot progress. I’ve got so many lovely scenes with Jake Hunter (Nathan Welsh), and they sort of form a little duo because of things… and that’s a really lovely sort of brother-sister dynamic that we see in Season 3. But we’re filming on location in these gorgeous, big medieval castles.

Tell me about the love interest you’re seen kissing in the trailer. What new potential do you think it brings for your character?

I tried to stay away from the idea that Patience has never been in a relationship before, and she’s this good little angel that’s never felt the touch of a man, but I think this relationship with Elliot [Tom Lewis] is really meaningful because he really does see and respect her. But in Season 2, it does get a bit… It’s the classic girl meets boy, and then miscommunication happens. And those miscommunications are a lot more prominent because Patience takes things to heart. It’s not all played safe, and we see her really navigate this new relationship with someone she really does like. And how that affects her work, and things merge into one, and she finds it difficult to separate work and life and personal life. It’s definitely a challenge.

PBS

How does the search for Patience’s mother continue into Season 2?

It’s funny because when I read the script for Season 2, and the reveal about her mother and what happened, I went, “Jesus Christ! Really? Oh my God, I didn’t see that coming.” You mesh Season 1 with the box with the clue, and then very abruptly you find out what happened, and it really knocks her. It just stresses the relationships she actually has in her life. But there’s this massive reveal at the end of Season 2 about her family. You uncover a big secret about her family, two secrets actually. They flesh out her life.

What do you hope people will get out of Season 2?

It’s lovely to see a different perspective on the world and to lead with empathy, and I think that the show allows the audience to do that, to go into something empathetic. It’s fun, people get murdered, and that’s always nice, isn’t it?

Is there any plotline you feel is left uncovered? Or that you’re most excited to be explored in Season 2?

Some of the reveals come quite abruptly, and I think it does work really well because you experience the same shock that Patience is feeling. I always say this, but I always want to see more of Jake, just because I love Nathan. Some of his storylines in Season 2 don’t get the same attention because the show’s not called Jake, it’s called Patience. I just love it when Nathan has little funny scenes, that’s something I wish was more common.

If you could describe Season 2 in three words, what would they be?

Uncomfortable, awkward, brilliant.

Patience, Season 2, Sunday, May 31, PBS