Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
But the real revelation inSex Educationis Emma Mackey, the newcomer who plays Maeve.
With her two-toned pink hair andknack for a cutting insult, Maeve already seems destined for cult fandom.
(Spoiler: Her grandma loved the banana blow-job scene.)
Maeve is a girl with a harsh, tough shell but a caring interior.
Did you feel connected to that tension?I definitely felt connected to her.
She uses her mind before anything else.
Shes in constant survival mode, which I love.
In some ways, she feels like a response to other cool girls weve met onscreen.
How did you approach that?She has this really tough exterior because of her circumstances.
A lot of people do that, dont they?
You dont get hurt and theres less risk involved if you build this hard shell.
But ultimately, shes got this lovely, warm, selfless, caring interior.
Did you have any particular inspirations for the role?
All of those physical aspects of the job.
But also, I was inspired by Judd Nelson.
Just a little bit.
Thats just me and my paranoia about illness and whatever.
Really, it was such a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere throughout.
It could very easily have been overwhelming and scary, but it wasnt.
And to be honest with you, there werent any scenes I was actually scared to do.
Its interesting that it was so comfortable, because I imagine it could potentially have gotten really awkward.
What were your sex scenes like?It was ultimately quite fun.
Its funny because people just expect actors to know how to have sex onscreen.
Its exactly the same with sex scenes.
Its all really coordinated and choreographed.
Wed practice it, practice the movements, until its as natural as possible.
So everything you see onscreen, were in our heads counting.
Its like a dance; its quite funny.
What was going on in your life before you got this job?
Were you in school?
I didnt get in, but that whole year, I was also going to acting classes.
Going there every week, that was my acting education.
Did the show teach you anything about sex that you didnt know?Oh my God, so much.
I never spoke about masturbation at school; it just wasnt a thing for some reason.
Girls and pleasure, its really taboo.
I thought I was always really weird, like,No one else is doing this.
Maybe Im really bad.
Maybe somethings wrong with me.
I think a lot of people feel that way about the show, from what Ive heard.
My grandparents actually said they wished they had a show like this 50 years ago.
Weve come a long way since pictures of reproducing rabbits.
Did your grandparents like it?My grandparents absolutely loved it.
I have to ask: Are you sick of the Margot Robbie comparisons yet?Oh my God.
I dont know if sick of it is the word.
Its a weird one.
But also, Ill take it.
There are worse people to be compared to.
