In London's renownedAlmeida Theatre, a new production of"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"seesDaisy Edgar-Jonestackling one of theater's most formidable roles. AsMaggie the Cat**, she prowls across a minimalist set, deliveringTennessee Williams' searing dialogue with an intensity that marks a dramatic departure from her understated screen performances.**
The production, helmed byRebecca Frecknall, has drawnmixed critical response, with particular attention paid to Edgar-Jones' bold interpretation of the role made iconic byElizabeth Taylor**. Where critics note the production occasionally struggles with Williams' "linguistic booby traps," Edgar-Jones' performance demonstrates an actor deliberately pushing beyond the quiet intensity that defined her breakout role in "Normal People."**
In a recent_Vogue_interview, conducted while battling both a cold and the demands of press night, Edgar-Jonesreflected on this artistic challenge. "I love what I do, but I do often play quite passive, vulnerable, pensive characters, and Maggie is the absolute antithesis of that," she noted, adding that she speaks for "55 minutes straight" in the opening act.
Between performances, Edgar-Jones makes her mark in fashion with equal precision. Photographed at_BBC Studios_for_Women's Hour_, she wore a precisely tailoredGucci_Fall-Winter 2024black wool crêpe jacket. She paired the piece with casual denim, venturing into the current high-low trend. The outfit was anchored by_Gucci*'s reinvented*Horsebit ballet flatsin black leather, while aBlondie mini shoulder bagand angular sunglasses finished her polished look.
This synthesis of theatrical daring and fashion forwardness suggests an artist actively shaping her post-breakthrough identity. While some rising stars might shy away from the unforgiving immediacy of live theater, Edgar-Jones appears to be embracing the challenge, both on stage and off. Her current trajectory suggests someone less interested in Hollywood's safe bets than in the raw authenticity of artistic risk.
As she told_Vogue_about her future aspirations, "I want to take on some new writing, something completely fresh I haven't seen before." If her current choices are any indication, we should expect the unexpected from this rising talent.