Interview with Ella Maisy Purvis (Patience)

Our lead character Patience is a young woman who is autistic. Patience is hyperlexic, meaning she has an incredible visual and auditory memory and can take in information at speed; as she files the cases in Criminal Records, she memorises them and is quick to spot patterns in the data that others may not. She’s driven by the enduring belief that she can be ‘a useful member of society’, something her father George drummed into her from an early age. Patience is the opposite of Bea – she’s rational, data-driven, fascinated by process and order, but also somewhat socially awkward and unworldly. She’s extremely sensitive to external stimuli, including smells, light and sound, and she struggles to read signals and body language and make friends. She gets stressed if she’s forced to deviate from her routine and can become emotionally overwhelmed. As Patience navigates a world that doesn't adapt to her she uses her specific set of skills to solve crimes and puzzles.

Interview

Ella Maisy Purvis – Patience

Why were you attracted to Patience as a project?

When I first got the script, it looked like such an interesting project, but it was when I actually met the team during one of my recall auditions that I knew this was something I really wanted to be involved in. I was so nervous that day, and I walked away thinking I blew it, so I couldn’t believe it when they said I got the job. What really sold it for me was how open the team was to collaboration. Like the first script I read in the audition has really changed and grown to what ended up on screen, and some of that came from speaking with the lead writer Matt Baker who’s just the nicest person.  I think sometimes autistic characters can be portrayed as incapable of feeling things like love or romance, and within the script I could see there were hints of this connection Patience had with one of the characters. I really wanted to lean into that more and Matt was totally on board. It meant we got to have this really lovely moment later on in the story between these characters, and we get to see Patience as a fully rounded character who's treated like an adult rather than being infantilised. Working with a team and cast who were so open to collaboration allowed us to have so much more authentic storytelling, and when I first met them back at that recall, I knew that was something they cared deeply about. 

Can you describe Patience?  Give us a little about her background and where we find her as the first episode lands...

One of the first shots of Patience is just her going through her morning routine. We see her having created this life for herself that's very safe. She's very comfortable just with her animals, her music. But she’s also this highly empathetic and sensitive person who cares so deeply about her job and the people around her. We see her at the height of this sort of bubble of safety, and as the story goes on, she gets more and more out of her comfort zone. I think a lot of autistic women grow up being pulled and pushed and bent into shape to fit a mould that slots as best it can into the rest of society. With Patience, the journey she goes on allows her to instead really come into her own and do what she needs and wants rather than being terrified to speak up for herself. 

Tell us a little about how she came to be working with Bea?

Patience is so driven and determined, but also a very logical person and somewhat of a nosey Parker. She can’t help but point out what’s obvious to her and scratch that itch that she has. It’s actually the first thing she does that's somewhat out of character for her or out of her comfort zone. She speaks up when she notices these patterns that the detective, Bea, hasn’t. And so she slowly, in a sort of secret and subtle way, begins pointing Bea in the right direction for her investigations. But what’s great is that Bea actually recognises that talent and is the first person to give her the time of day. 

Tonally how would you describe Patience as a drama?

It's funny cause we have all these really intriguing crimes and Agatha Christie-esque investigations and mysteries, but really it’s shown through the eyes of Patience so it's really heartfelt. We see her anxieties, how her mind works and ultimately given a neurodivergent the point of view which is quite unique. Although each episode dives into a new case, so there’s an exciting pace of the mysteries to solve, the undercurrent is this really beautiful and emotional journey of growth and understanding that the characters all go on. It’s also incredibly witty with such dry humour. What I love most is that Patience is never the butt of the joke, however she may miss things or not understand some social cues or context, but she’ll make some blunt remark which just always gave me a giggle when reading the script. I think that was so important to me, that the show has real humour but it’s never at the expense of Patience’s character. I was also surprised at how much the show has this great retro feel about it! With the colours and the grading, it gives it almost like a ‘70s feel which I thought was so cool.

How have you enjoyed working with the rest of the cast?

They are all just amazing. I was coming in as a twenty-year-old, surrounded by all these people with their fantastic careers, and this was one of my first big roles. There was definitely some imposter syndrome.  I felt quite intimidated and that I really didn’t know what I was doing. But then I get thrown in with everyone like Mark, Laura and Nathan who are just the loveliest people. They’re all so funny and welcoming, and immediately made me feel at ease. Working opposite Laura specifically was such a joy. She has so much conviction and confidence in herself. It’s so inspiring and I’m really grateful to have had someone like her to not only look up to but work with. 

How important is it to you that neurodivergent actors play neurodivergent roles?

Why wouldn’t you want the person with the most experience to play a role that is so shaped by the way in which they experience the world? Neurodivergent people experience the world in such a unique way, and no two are the same. The kind of perspective that comes from lived experiences can’t be learnt, and so when you’re casting for roles which have neurodiversity as part of their character it’s really important that those voices are being heard and are actively in the room. That way, you can bring a level of authenticity to the narrative that would otherwise be lacking, which just makes for a more engaging and meaningful story - which is what we all want in the end, right?

What were the challenges - if any - that you experienced?

Getting myself settled into a routine was certainly challenging. I was in a completely different country, in a space I’d never been to before, which can be quite disorientating. That first week especially, I was expecting it to be really difficult to familiarise myself with it all but also try and hit the ground running. I certainly felt the pressure. But the whole cast and crew were just incredible, and there was so much care involved from the very start that it ended up being a lot easier than I anticipated. Plus, I very quickly fell in love with Antwerp where we first filmed which certainly helped - it’s now one of the best cities I’ve ever been to.  I have to say, though, being honest the greatest challenge was really being away from my cat for so long - I felt like a neglectful mother! 

What are your most memorable moments in front of the camera? 

There are a couple for sure. One of the first days on set, I got to watch a man get set on fire right in front of my eyes!  Of course, it was a stunt and all done under health and safety, but I was just meters away and those flames were so hot, it was the coolest thing ever. I could feel my mouth hurting just from how much I was grinning in awe.  Also, any scene with me, Mark and Nathan towards the end of the day were some of my favourite moments. Mark’s worked in comedy for a while, so he knows how not to corpse and Nathan knows how to keep his composure. Me though? Not so much - and Mark knew it. He'd do everything in his power to make us laugh during some takes. It got to the point where I was shaking so much from laughter I just had to run off set! We definitely ended up doing some overtime that day to get the final take.

You were shooting in both Belgium and York.  What did you like best about both places?  Any specific memories you'd like to share?

Antwerp, where most of the filming took place, was fantastic. I think about the food there almost daily. On set they had this food truck that stayed all day, filled with so many snacks and drinks and the most amazing breakfast spread I've ever seen. It was all so incredibly European, with the freshest bread every morning - it was heavenly. I also really liked working with the crew who were all local. They were too lovely for words, and I learnt so much about the city and its culture through them. I’ve made lifelong connections so with many of them. York was just magical. Walking through The Shambles at around 3 or 4 o’clock felt like you were in some sort of Victorian film. I couldn’t get over how much the whole place felt like a move set, yet this was just where people actually lived. I have to admit, I’m quite prone to falling down and I’m a little clumsy - so trying to tackle those cobbles in a pair of loafers was a nightmare! But so worth it for that scenery. 

Tell us about Patience's relationships with some of the other characters in particular Bea, Jake and Billy?

Patience has a really special relationship with Billy, they’re each other's comfort people. They both really understand each other so deeply, their needs and their boundaries. It’s like they can communicate to each other with just a look or a slight nod. It’s so beautiful seeing their relationship grow. With Jake, he’s a proper lad and a bit rough around the edges. When he meets Patience he’s certainly bit stand offish but also curious, like who is this little weirdo coming in and trying to do my job... but getting it right?”. They slowly come to realise that they both have skills that the other doesn’t and can be useful to each other… if they can work through that initial resentment and prejudice. It’s so lovely to see a character learn and grow. To start in a place that maybe isn’t the most educated or accepting, but then go on that journey of understanding and acceptance. It’s inspiring and lets people know that it’s okay to change sometimes. Patience and Bea have such a beautiful connection. Bea is the first person to really see and appreciate Patience for who she is. She honours her mind and how her brain works and realises that she needs Patience as much as Patience needs her. They sort of mould into each other, becoming a little more like the other. They’ve very complimentary skills and assets and work great as a pair.