Okay, I don’t even start with “if you’ve seen ‘Sex Education'” because everyone has watched it. And if you haven’t already, stop: go to turn on your computer, open Netflix and watch it. All of it. Now.
“Sex Education” isn’t a series, or at least it’s not just that. It’s a place where “weirdness” is normalized, where you think “ah” and immediately understand that you haven’t been the only one in the world who has not thought about certain things. And a world where you are not judged and where sex is not sexy, it’s simply what it is: pleasure, awkwardness, self-expression, problems, self-esteem or a lack of self-esteem. And many other things that can confuse.
And, in a society like ours made of perfection, of social media, of wanting to achieve beauty at all costs, I think that a series like “Sex Education” is a kind of miracle.
And it happens that, in “Sex Education” (of which they have just announced the third season) there is also the most intricate, cool, authentic, and at the same time, the most picturesque character (and I don’t deny it to anyone, it’s my favorite), Lily Iglehart. A girl who only apparently seems confused, with a strong irony, a great sense of herself and a fantasy of her own, but who represents many girls and boys all over the world. Because that’s what “Sex Education” is about: representation. And in doing so it makes us discover interpretations, characters, actresses like Tanya Reynolds: she plays Lily and any other role with an impressive naturalness, a girl who is taking the future in her hands and she’s filling it with amazing projects.
In addition to the masterful “Sex Education”, we will see her soon on the big screen with “Emma“, in which she plays Mrs. Elton, directed by Autumn de Wilde, her first film, after countless unforgettable photos.
And, speaking of photos, Tanya loves taking them too, as a way to vent her creativity, and a little bit to channel that anxiety that she says to be part of her body at a higher percentage than water: a proper 90%. In fact, social anxiety, mental health and many others were the topics of our interview with this talented actress.
But we can assure you one thing: that remaining 10% is pure badassery.
You have done “Sex Education”, you will be on “Emma” and you are on stage now with “Scenes with Girls”. Now that you have done so many high quality and important projects, how do you search for a new one? How would you like your path to continue?
It’s all about the script. If the script is fresh and interesting, witty and complex, that’s what I’m interested in. I just hope to keep making interesting, unexpected stuff.
There are certain TV series that try to talk about a lot of things and by doing it they tend to do too much and nothing good. But “Sex Education” is astonishing, it manages to speak about so many important subjects without being superficial with any of these. What were, between all the stories, the ones you are particularly happy to see portrayed?
I think we were all so happy to see all of the girls come together in episode seven. The fact that they could put aside their differences and come together and support one another. We’re all messy, complex creatures and will never see eye to eye with everyone, but to recognise that we are stronger when we are supporting each other, holding each other and being vulnerable with each other is incredibly important. I loved the way the show dealt with this.
“…we are stronger when we are supporting each other, holding each other and being vulnerable with each other is incredibly important.”
Speaking about “Sex Education” how has your relationship with Lily evolved from one season to the other?
I just fall more and more in love with her, and like all characters, the more that is written the more complex they become. Lily surprises me, and that’s always so refreshing for an actor – when you don’t know what your character is going to do next. I also feel like we have been growing together, along side each other…even though I’m much older than her, I still feel like I’m figuring stuff out for myself, just as she is.
“Lily surprises me, and that’s always so refreshing…”
We are totally rooting for Lily and Ola now, what would you like to see in their relationship in season 3? And we will hope to see more of Lily, her background and family. Do you think this is a possibility?
I really hope so! I would love to learn more about Lily’s family, and also learn more about how she is finding this transition – from wanting to have sex with men so eagerly, to having an intense, intimate relationship with a woman. I want to see her in deep love, and what that does to her. I feel like love will make her evolve in some way, I think it could make her warmer, more vulnerable, perhaps even braver than she is now. I think Lily and Ola have the potential to have an incredibly loving and supportive, mature relationship.
What was the best scene to shoot? We really love the one when you and all the girls are smashing the car!
I loved all of the scenes in Episode Seven with all the girls. Those were my favourite days on set. Every single one of those women are incredible and those days were filled with so much warmth and laughter.
“I think Lily and Ola have the potential to have an incredibly loving and supportive, mature relationship.”
Your favorite “Sex Education” character?
Oh man, I literally love them all. I have a particular soft spot for Adam Groff, as I think we all do. And I love Ruby! I think she’s hilarious and there’s so much further for her to go.
A night out with Lily, where would you go?
An all night Sci-Fi film marathon at the Prince Charles Cinema. And we’d dress up as our favourite characters and eat chocolate buttons and jelly babies.
“I have a particular soft spot for Adam Groff”
Lily always wears a waist bag/pouch, what would we find in yours if you had one?
A chocolate bar…several empty wrappers of other chocolate bars…seven pens, a tampon, and a teeny tiny notebook. I’m lost without at least one notebook on me at all times.
Speaking of clothing, you wear some pretty great outfits on the show, what is your favorite so far?
I love it when Lily dresses as Glenoxi. But I think my favourite outfit from this season was when she was dressed as Tank Girl in Ola’s dream. You don’t see much of it in the show, but I felt very cool for five minutes.
If you would have the occasion as Tanya to talk to Aimee, Adam and Lily, what would you say to each one of them?
I would tell Aimee she could do ANYTHING because I truly believe that girl is capable of remarkable things. I would give Adam a cuddle. I would ask Lily to remember me when she’s casting her first film.
“I would ask Lily to remember me when she’s casting her first film.”
The last book that made you emotional?
“Just Kids” by Patti Smith. I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read and I feel annoyed that I didn’t read it when I was nineteen. I feel like I would have been a different person had I read that ten years ago.
Sex Education speaks also about mental health. With all the things you are doing in your life, as a rising actress, do you ever feel anxiety? And how do you manage it? And, as much as having a sex education, how much do you think it’s important to speak about mental health?
I feel so much anxiety. I think I am 90% anxiety. It’s common with actors, because nothing is ever certain, there’s no routine, you have no idea what’s going to happen next and you have very little control over so many elements of your life. I try to deal with it by being creative in some way. Writing or taking photographs, because those are things that I can control, and they keep me focused on one particular thing for an amount of time. I think it’s so important to dispel any shame around mental health issues because everyone has them, and like anything, they’re a lot easier to deal with if there’s no stigma around talking about them.
“I think I am 90% anxiety… I try to deal with it by being creative in some way.”
What can we expect from the new adaptation of “Emma” and how would you define this new adaptation in one world?
Beautiful.
How was working with director Autumn de Wilde?
I love Autumn. She always felt like a friend more than a director – even in the audition I felt such a strong connection with her. She’s so supportive and warm and has such a great sense of humour. I am also a big fan of her photography so it was amazing to watch her work and be a part of her work.
“I love Autumn. She always felt like a friend more than a director.”
How did you approach your character, Mrs. Elton? How did the book inspire you in portraying her?
I just had fun with her. To me, the fact that she is so unselfconscious, completely oblivious to how other people perceive her and with such a warped view of her own image, that narcissism alone gave me so much to work with. It’s fun to play someone who is unselfconscious…because I’m generally so self conscious, so it was a refreshing change!
On “Scenes with Girls”, what’s the best reaction from the audience that you’ve seen so far?
It’s about a messy friendship, and how all friendships, when they’re close enough and deep enough are messy and can be brutal and painful. When one of my best friends came to see it she cried so much afterwards because she connected with it so much. That was pretty special.
What’s the beauty of being on stage with this kind of plays?
It’s new and it’s a story that has not been told in this way before. It’s so exciting to be part of something that is so fresh and so excellently written, and something that I can connect to so strongly.
Are you working on something of yours? If you could talk about one last topic and then no more, what would you choose and why?
I am currently trying to develop something of my own which is about social anxiety. I struggle with it a lot and I don’t often see the topic explored in the way that I am trying to. I want to make it because I feel like it communicates my inability to communicate in the ways that I so often want to.
“I am currently trying to develop something of my own which is about social anxiety.”
You’re also into photography, what inspires you the most?
I got into photography when I was a teenager as a way to express things that I was feeling that I wasn’t able to communicate fully. So I pick up my camera when I’m not feeling great, or there’s something I want to work out in my head or I want to distract myself. It helps me focus my attention and my feelings into something physical.
It’s a therapy for me.
Sex Education series 2 is available on Netflix; Emma is released on February 14 in the UK and June 11 in Italy.
Photos & Video by Johnny Carrano
Makeup by Caroline Barnes
Hair by Ben Cooke
Styling by Ella Gaskell
Styling Assistant: Annabelle Field
Thanks to The Bedford
Thanks to Three Cheers Pub Co
LOOK 1
Suit: Alice and Olivia
Heels: DKNY
Earrings: NYNNE
Ear Cuff: Tada and Toy
Necklace: Stylists Own
LOOK 2
Jacket: Bite Studios
Silver Cami: L’Agence
Trousers: Bite Studios
Shoes: A-Jane
Belt: PINKO
Hoop earrings: Thomas Sabo
Chain necklace: Loel & Co
Ear cuff: Tada and Toy
LOOK 3
Blazer: PINKO
Top: L’Agence
Cami vest top: Iris & Ink
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Heels: Malan
LOOK 4
Jacket: Malan Breton
Trousers: Bella Freud
Heels: DKNY
Cami vest top: L’Agence
