Five minutes with actor Esmé Creed-Miles

Esmé Creed-Miles’ performance in Hanna was the kind of cool-girl role that we’ve all fantasised about while looking out of the window. Well, maybe without the blood and gore – but who hasn’t occasionally wished they could sack off the 9‑to‑5 to live a fast-paced life of assassin mayhem?

Since the final series of the Prime Video show wrapped in 2021, the 23-year-old North Londoner has continued to find herself in the shoes of emotionally complex characters.

She most recently appeared in Sacha Polak’s Silver Haze, taking on the role of Florence opposite Vicky Knight, upon whose traumatic teenage years the film is loosely based.

Next she’ll be seen in the Peter Dinklage-fronted western The Thicket (think: bounty hunters and a killer named Cut Throat Bill), as well as playing the lead role in period TV thriller The Doll Factory. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough she’s set to portray dancer Lucia Joyce, daughter of author James Joyce, in the upcoming biopic Lucia, too.

Where does she find the time? No idea. But we did manage to find five minutes with the star at a Celine dinner hosted by Hedi Slimane at Cannes Film Festival a few weeks back. Here’s what she had to say…

The first time I performed on screen was…
When I was six years old, I played Shirley Temple in Harmony Korine’s Mister Lonely (2007).

The best piece of advice I got in the industry was…
My manager tells me to play the game more. She’s right.

The one item that travels with me everywhere is…
Wherever I go I bring my pillow. I can’t sleep without my pillow from home.

When I’m not acting, I’m…
The past year I’ve been recording a sort of rock-adjacent album with producer Jorge Elbrecht and some friends in LA. I’m very excited about it.

The last new artist I discovered on Spotify was…
I’m trying to use Spotify less at the moment, because they only pay artists $0.003 – 0.005 per stream which is really unfair. But my dear friend Harriette from the band Hatchie (also amazing) recently put me on to Bill Ryder-Jones. Big fan.

The TV show that I’m bingeing at the moment is…
Selling Sunset. Bre is an excellent addition.What was it like working on your latest film Silver Haze?

I’ve never been so proud of a film. I urge everyone to see it when it’s out in the UK. The lead actress, who is the most talented actress I’ve ever seen, Vicki Knight, plays herself, telling her life story. We had a mad time making it.

You’ll be telling the true story of James Joyce’s daughter in Lucia. How are you preparing for that role?
Lucia isn’t my next project, but I’m really honoured to be a part of it. Lucia was a brilliant dancer, whose legacy was overshadowed by her struggles mentally and the shadow of her father’s brilliance. I’ve been battling my own clumsiness and learning as much dance as and when I can. It’s quickly becoming my favourite mode of expression – I wish I learnt as a child!