In London's renowned Almeida Theatre, a new production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" sees Daisy Edgar-Jones tackling one of theater's most formidable roles. As Maggie the Cat, she prowls across a minimalist set, delivering Tennessee Williams' searing dialogue with an intensity that marks a dramatic departure from her understated screen performances.
The production, helmed by Rebecca Frecknall, has drawn mixed critical response, with particular attention paid to Edgar-Jones' bold interpretation of the role made iconic by Elizabeth Taylor. Where critics note the production occasionally struggles with Williams' "linguistic booby traps," Edgar-Jones' performance demonstrates an actor deliberately pushing beyond the quiet intensity that defined her breakout role in "Normal People."
In a recent Vogue interview, conducted while battling both a cold and the demands of press night, Edgar-Jones reflected on this artistic challenge. "I love what I do, but I do often play quite passive, vulnerable, pensive characters, and Maggie is the absolute antithesis of that," she noted, adding that she speaks for "55 minutes straight" in the opening act.
Between performances, Edgar-Jones makes her mark in fashion with equal precision. Photographed at BBC Studios for Women's Hour, she wore a precisely tailored Gucci Fall-Winter 2024 black wool crêpe jacket. She paired the piece with casual denim, venturing into the current high-low trend. The outfit was anchored by Gucci's reinvented Horsebit ballet flats in black leather, while a Blondie mini shoulder bag and angular sunglasses finished her polished look.
This synthesis of theatrical daring and fashion forwardness suggests an artist actively shaping her post-breakthrough identity. While some rising stars might shy away from the unforgiving immediacy of live theater, Edgar-Jones appears to be embracing the challenge, both on stage and off. Her current trajectory suggests someone less interested in Hollywood's safe bets than in the raw authenticity of artistic risk.
As she told Vogue about her future aspirations, "I want to take on some new writing, something completely fresh I haven't seen before." If her current choices are any indication, we should expect the unexpected from this rising talent.
