From film to stage to photography, Tanya Reynolds seems to do it all. This multi-talented English actress has known exactly who she was and who she wanted to be from a young age, and her fearless pursuit of art and creative expression is beyond inspiring. Whether you’ve seen her as Lily on the hit Netflix series, Sex Education, or in her latest break-out role as Mrs. Elton in the new film, Emma, you can spot this British powerhouse with a book in one hand, a script in the other, and an incredible thirst to bring the most unusually unique characters to life.
Ashley: What is your original hometown and what is it famous for?
Tanya: Hemel Hempstead. At one point, it was voted the “ugliest town in Britain.”
Ashley: What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always envision yourself in the entertainment industry?
Tanya: I always wanted to be an actress. I also wanted to write books, and still do.
Ashley: What influenced you to become an actress?
Tanya: I just always wanted to do it and when I was young, I never really questioned it—it was just in my bones. But as I’ve got older, I think it’s probably something to do with escapism.
Ashley: Tell us about your heroes growing up—Who empowered you to be who you are and achieve your
dreams?
Tanya: My parents were always so supportive and encouraging of my ambitions. They made me believe I could do anything.
Ashley: What has been your favorite role to-date and why?
Tanya: I have been incredibly lucky with the roles I’ve been given so far in my incredibly short career. Lily in Sex Education is obviously a highlight. Roles like her are so rare. I feel lucky that I’ve managed to play characters quite vastly different from each other in the last few years. I’ve loved them all.
Ashley: Tell us about the most difficult role you’ve ever been cast in—How did you overcome this challenge and what about it made you a stronger actress?
Tanya: Every role has its challenges. Lily has been challenging in a lot of ways, because she’s so unusual, and that brings the challenge of making her as human and relatable as possible, and not just letting her be a cartoon. In a lot of ways, I found Mrs. Elton in Emma challenging in the same way. It’s very easy to be silly with these hilarious characters, but you also have to make them real.
Ashley: Which do you prefer—film or theater? And what has been your favorite stage performance to date?
Tanya: I love them both for different reasons and in different ways. Theater is tough on your stamina, but I love how it pushes you. I love the immediacy of it, I love the difficulty of it, I love spending three weeks in a rehearsal room talking about every inch of your character, every word in the script. I love hearing an audience laugh or gasp or sniff back tears. Film and TV are rewarding in different ways. It’s always so exciting to be on a set, and I love how the camera can pick up things you aren’t aware of or doing intentionally. I love the subtlety of it and the delayed gratification, in that you have a lot of fun making it, then it goes away for a while, and then it comes out and you get to experience the joy and anxiety of people seeing it. I’ve only done one play so far, since leaving drama school, which was Scenes With Girls by Miriam Battye at The Royal Court, which I’ve literally just finished. The Royal Court has always been my favorite theater, so working there was actually a dream come true.
Ashley: What is it like recreating a classic like Jane Austen’s Emma? Tell us more about how you get into character for such a role.
Tanya: Just being as familiar as possible with the book and trusting what I knew about her. I went through the book and wrote down on my script every single thing another character said about Mrs. Elton, and what she says about herself, and that’s how I tried to get into her skin.
Ashley: What’s been your experience starring in a major Netflix series like Sex Education?
Tanya: It’s been incredible, obviously. It’s very surreal, but so gratifying to be working on a project I love and believe in so much.
Ashley: Describe your personal style in three words.
Tanya: Lazy. Comfortable. Loose.
Ashley: Would you consider yourself more of an extrovert or an introvert?
Tanya: INTROVERT. In capital letters. I don’t think there’s an extroverted bone in my body.
Ashley: How do you use your personal style to express yourself, and what do your fashion choices say about you?
Tanya: I sort of want to hide in my clothes. I don’t like feeling too dressed up, I don’t like feeling restricted. I am happiest in a tee shirt and loose-fitting jeans and my Dr. Martens that are so worn, they are hanging on for dear life. For formal events, I just try and wear things that make me feel the least awkward. I think my clothing choices probably say that I’m a lazy dresser who would rather you weren’t looking at her, or that I’m really making an effort but that I feel pretty awkward about it.
Ashley: I noticed on your Instagram that you have some interesting portrait and film photography you’ve shot. Is photography something you dabble in, from time to time?
Tanya: I love photography, it’s been a big hobby of mine since I was sixteen. I love it because there’s no pressure or expectation in it for me. I think it’s important to have a hobby that you love to do, for no other reason than you love to do it, and aren’t particularly striving for any sort of greatness in that area. I don’t need to be amazing at taking photos, I just like doing it for myself.
Ashley: What are your hobbies when you’re not acting? How do these help you stay balanced with such a demanding job?
Tanya: As well as taking photos, I write and read a lot. I go out of my mind if I don’t always have a book on the go.
Ashley: Which do you prefer —digital or film photography?
Tanya: At the moment, I love film photography because I like that you don’t have complete control over your images. It makes every image a bit special, rather than taking 50 of the same thing. You think through your photos a bit more when shooting on film, and every shot counts and I like that.
Ashley: You seem to like to shoot a lot of naturally lit sets—does nature inspire you to create?
Tanya: Nature, light, people. I create most when I’m feeling terrible, or trying to work through something and I need a creative outlet.
Ashley: What was your first “pinch me” moment when you knew this career was taking off for you?
Tanya: I had a pinch-me moment the other day. I went to the cinema with my best friend and my housemate to see Emma, and afterwards went straight to The Royal Court Theatre, where I was doing a brilliant play called Scenes With Girls. When I was on the tube on my way to the theater, I just felt in that moment incredibly lucky and grateful.
Ashley: What’s been the most impactful piece of advice that a fellow entertainer has given you to-date?
Tanya: Bet on yourself.
Ashley: Tell me about your first major role—what was it and how did the character impact you?
Tanya: I guess it was playing Teresa in a Sky One show called Delicious, which ran for three series. Teresa was depressed and complicated and struggled with bulimia. She was sharp and lonely and bright and I loved her. Delicious was a huge deal for me, as it was my first television job, and it was playing a character I had a great deal of love for and a huge connection with. Dawn French, who is one of my all-time comedy heroes, was playing my mother, so it was just a surreal and incredible experience. I learned so much on that job, and made some life-long friends. I will always be grateful for that opportunity.
Ashley: Who is your personal hero?
Tanya: My mum and dad.
Ashley: Let’s talk favorites—What is your favorite book?
Tanya: It’s a toss-up between My Brilliant Friend by Eleanor Ferante, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and Just Kids by Patti Smith.
Ashley: What is your favorite camera to use for photography?
Tanya: My gorgeous, second-hand Nikon F3A film camera.
Ashley: What is your favorite animal?
Tanya: Dogs
Ashley: What is your favorite color?
Tanya: Coral
Ashley: Which genre of film is your favorite?
Tanya: Comedy
Ashley: What is your favorite type of character to play?
Tanya: The more complex and messy, the better.
To keep up with Tanya Reynolds between projects, be sure to follow her on Instagram @tanyaloureynolds.
Find this interview inside The 8th Anniversary Issue of MOD Magazine.
CREDITS:
Photographs by Matt Holyoak
Interview by Ashley Dawson
