Interview: Kaya Scodelario Discusses Stepping into the Guy Ritchie Universe With ‘The Gentlemen’

For Kaya Scodelario, playing Susie Glass in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen was the first time she portrayed a fully-formed “grown-ass woman who’s unapologetic about how intelligent and savvy she is.” Best known for her turns as Effy Stonem in Skins and as Teresa in The Maze Runner trilogy, Scodelario spoke to Awards Radar on Zoom and discussed how empowering it was to step into Susie’s “very high shoes”: 

“She starts incredibly strong and at the top of the game, but we also get to explore her vulnerabilities and the cracks in her armor as we go along. I just adored her. I knew straightaway it was someone I could breathe life into – that I’d have fun playing. I also loved the idea of being the first front-and-center female character within that Guy Ritchie universe.”

One of the most important elements in shaping the character was to showcase how “there was no way in which, by the second episode, she would suddenly trust these people and show all sides of herself to them. The business is what is important to her, and she’s learned that over a long time. We meet her, she’s already established, there’s no coming of age. She’s already at the top of her game. We really lent into the idea that she is in control at all times; she knows exactly what she’s doing but doesn’t trust anyone else.”

In discussing with Guy Ritchie on her character, Scodelario explained that “his way of working is quite interesting in that ideas pop into his head in the moment” and that she had a completely different perception of who Susie was after meeting him. However, Ritchie is known for throwing the script and completely changing the scene on the day of shooting, shaping his projects within the edit, which in turn creates a more dynamic and exciting viewing experience in the finished product (episode one’s incredible chicken scene is the perfect showcase of how Ritchie refines his filmmaking style through the edit). 

It may seem anxiety-inducing at first, but Scodelario states that “once you accept and trust it, it’s actually very freeing. It’s sort of a weird improvisation style, and there are moments where you have to push back and go, “You know, I don’t think that’s quite right,” and he’ll push back just as much. That’s actually quite exciting and creative. Once you assert yourself and give in to his way of doing it, it can be a really interesting way of working.”

In The Gentlemen, Susie Glass introduces Eddie Horniman (Theo James) to the criminal underworld after he becomes the new Duke of Halsead, which creates one of the most intriguing screen pairings in any Ritchie title to date. 

On building their on-screen chemistry, Scodelario explained that “it was quite obvious that we had to toe the line between them having this very natural, clear chemistry, but also aware that they are enemies and that they will never be the same. There’s something fundamentally British about that and how our society is structured within the class system. 

No matter how much wealth the Glass family accumulates, they will always be working class versus the upper class. Eddie and Susie will always have that feeling towards each other within that. It was really fun to play with the idea that there is an undeniable chemistry there; they work very well together. I think Susie is the first to see something in Eddie that she hasn’t seen in any of the people she’s dealt with in this world before.”

Scodelario also shares a number of fantastic scenes with Ray Winstone, who portrays Susie’s father, Bobby Glass. For her, to be in the same space with him and collaborate on their relationship was very exciting. But on top of that, Winstone “knows how to speak to women. He’s very respectful of them and of fellow actors. To have that safe space with his gravitas is just an absolute joy of mine. My favorite scenes to shoot of the show were the ones with him, because it felt like when you work with a really good actor, they elevate you, and you need to match up to that presence. And it was really fun to kind of go toe to toe with him.”

There was also a Maze Runner reunion between her and Giancarlo Esposito, who portrays Stanley Johnston (“with a T,” to which the show continuously cuts to every single time his name is uttered, without fail, another brilliant display of Ritchie’s style) in the series. In reuniting with him, Scodelario said it felt like she saw him yesterday because “you have these really huge bonds with people on set. You then go your separate ways, go back to real life, and life moves on. But when you come back together on a set, it’s like no time has passed.

On day one, we took a selfie and sent it to the Maze Runner group chat, and the boys were all very excited. We adored him then and it was great to see him again. He’s still the same amazing actor and charmer. And it’s really nice to know that you’re in a safe place with someone you’ve worked with before. You know that they’re good, you know that they’re honest, and kind. It was really wonderful having him there.”

For Scodelario, adapting herself to Guy Ritchie’s directorial style felt like a new form of set experience. In reflecting on her time working in The Gentlemen, she states, “It was really great to come out the other side of it and go, “Oh, I managed to keep up with that.” I managed to do it.”

Susie Glass may be the first “fully-formed” and “unapologetic” adult character Kaya Scodelario has played in her career. But with a career-best performance like the one she gives within the show, it certainly won’t be the last. 

You can check out my full interview with Kaya below and stream all episodes of The Gentlemen on Netflix today: 

[Some of the quotes in this article were edited for length and clarity]