Ruth Wilson shared her joy at being cast as in her “glorious” His Dark Materials role, admitting the part is a refreshing change from those she is “usually" offered.
The Luther actress stars as the sinister Mrs Coulter in the much-hyped BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman’s books.
Speaking at the world premiere on Tuesday night, she admitted her delight at playing a character described as “the mother of all evil”.
Wilson said: “Usually you get ‘blonde, curvaceous, mid-thirties.’ This was ‘cesspit of moral filth’. I know how to do that one.”
She added that when the part came through, it was a case of “I cannot say no to this”.
“These books are extraordinary,” she said. “And this part is… she’s so mysterious and unknowable and constantly unpredictable.
"That’s why [she’s] such a joy to play. Each scene you can keep switching and confusing the audience, confusing your fellow actors.
“She’s a master manipulator, she knows what she’s doing. She’s incredibly intelligent and driven and she wants what she wants.”
“My nieces and nephews won’t want me to babysit again and I’m okay with that,” Wilson joked.
The premiere took place at the BFI Southbank and Wilson was joined by co-stars including Dafne Keen and Clarke Peters, along with the show’s writer, Jack Thorne, and executive producer, Jane Tranter.
Author Pullman, who serves as an executive producer on the adaptation, was also in attendance.
Heaping praise on the writer, Wilson told him: “Philip, you’ve created such a genius piece of work that we are constantly questioning and digging deeper every day onset.”
His Dark Materials arrives on BBC1 next month and a second series has already been commissioned.
