Slow Horses Is Back – And Ruth Bradley Has Joined The Star-Studded Cast

Season 4 has just kicked off on Apple TV, but there’s a new kid on the Slow Horses block. We’re sure you’ll recognise her: joining the cast as MI5 agent Emma Flyte after roles in the likes of The Gold, Humans, The Fall and Ted Lasso is Ruth Bradley. We sat down with Ruth to hear all about the series.

Photographer – Pip Bourdillon
Stylist – Mary-Anna Kearney
Hair Stylist – Davide Barbieri
Makeup Artist – Alexis Day

Interview: Ruth Bradley

Hi Ruth, how’s life going at the moment? 

Life is pretty great, never been better really.

You’ve joined the cast of Apple TV’s Slow Horses – can you give us an elevator pitch for the show? 

MI5’s rejects and the worst spies going turn out to be pretty great under the mentorship of their ambiguous, brilliant and pungent boss Jackson Lamb. Bourne meets The Thick Of It.

What can fans expect from season 4? 

More of the same wonderfully drawn characters and dry wit we’ve come to expect from the show. But this season is much darker and much more personal.

You play a new character called Emma – how would you describe her?

Emma Flyte is the new head of security for MI5. She is by the book, a real believer in truth and justice and in doing the right thing. She’s idealistic and a little cocky but her heart is in the right place.

What was it like playing her? 

An absolute blast. What’s great about the show is that all of the characters are three dimensional. There was so much wiggle room to explore the complexity of Emma’s emotional journey. The show is just as interested in getting inside those tiny human moments as it is in the huge set pieces.

How did you get into character? 

The ways I get into character are probably too weird to put into writing. Whatever works to make the work most convincing, basically.

Did you do anything special to prepare for the role? 

Physically, I worked with a brilliant trainer lifting weights and boxing so that by the time I got to set I felt really strong. It was important to me that Emma look like she could take someone in a fight. Then choosing her particular voice and accent and finessing that always takes a while. That part is important to me because the specific street someone is from can affect the whole way in which they move in the world. I felt that very keenly for Emma, being a woman in this traditionally very male job. What kind of street did she grow up on?

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming? 

Spending so many nights in a locked off St Pancras station was pretty magical. Sprinting along the concourse, up the stairs, at the champagne bar.  It’s such a familiar London landmark. I think that’s another really special thing about the show – London itself is such a prominent character.

What was the cast dynamic on set?

So much fun. It really is such a fabulous group of actors. Everyone is very generous and open to playing.

Who was your favourite person to work with? 

I would have to say Gary Oldman because he was my childhood acting idol. I wanted to be him when I grew up.

Ruth and Gary Oldman in Slow Horses season 4

You’ve also starred in the likes of The Gold, Humans, Ted Lasso… What has been your favourite project to date? 

I really couldn’t choose a favourite. They’ve all held something special for me. Those three projects you mentioned alone had so much to have fun with – playing a character so different from me in The Gold, playing a robot posing as a human in Humans, laughing from morning until night on Ted Lasso. I can always find something to sink my teeth into.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past? 

I don’t really have a favourite, they’re too numerous to mention. I always enjoy working opposite friends; it brings an extra dimension to the table.

Which co-star did you learn the most from? 

I have learned something from every single one of them.

What’s your dream role? 

Lady M.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of? 

I don’t ever really pay attention to the genre when reading scripts – it’s the quality of script and character that grabs me. But I’ve never done a musical before, so that would be a nice challenge – all that singing and dancing.

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with? 

Lenny Abrahamson. I love his work and I’ve heard such incredible things about the way he works. I would love to be on one of his sets.

Do you get to spend much time at home? 

I think I have a pretty good balance. I finally love being at home after running around non-stop in my twenties. I’ve developed a real interest in architecture and interior design in the past few years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed renovating and designing my homes. I must stop moving house soon.

Do you live in the town or the country? 

Town.

Which do you prefer? 

Town every time. I was born in Dublin city and I moved to London at 18. I love a long weekend and a ramble in the country, but I’m soon ready to get home to the bright lights and the theatres.

What’s your interior design style? 

It varies depending on the building and the bones of the place. I’ve done hygge and Abigail Aherns darks. I’m currently obsessed with Emma Merry’s beautiful book The New Colourful Home and I can feel myself moving into my bold palette, colour drenching era.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives? 

Daily meditation and trying to come back to the present moment whenever I drift. Which I inevitably always do.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? 

Always and ever only an actress.

If you could give advice to your 15-year-old self, what would it be? 

Accept your body. You’ll be together a long time so don’t punish it.

How can we all live a little bit better? 

Practice kindness to everyone. We’re all just babies who grew up.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally? 

Another very exciting job but I’m not allowed to say. And another house move which is always fun in my book.

Ruth in Slow Horses season 4

Ruth Bradley Recommends…

I’m currently watching… Presumed Innocent on Apple TV. Ruth Negga is a master.

What I’m reading… I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel. Fantastic.

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Hills of California on stage and All Of Us Strangers.

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… Kneecap

Favourite film of all time… Too many to choose from but Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet is in the all time top 10.

Favourite song of all time… Again, too many to choose from, but ‘Your Face’ by The Frames is one of the top 10.

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Radiohead

My ultimate cultural recommendation… Just follow your feet into any theatre/gallery/cinema you feel pulled to.

Cultural guilty pleasure… There’s no such thing, it’s all allowed.

WATCH

Ruth Bradley stars as Emma Flyte in season 4 of Slow Horses. New episodes of season 4 are arriving weekly on Wednesdays on Apple TV. All episodes of the first three seasons are streaming now at tv.apple.com