Straight from supporting roles in Mrs Henderson Presents and Pride and Prejudice, and an Empire Award for Best Newcomer, Kelly Reilly is not about to rest on her laurels. She's going to Ireland next week to shoot her first lead role in a film, in Puffball. Directed by Nick Roeg, it’s an eerie tale of young woman (Reilly) and her unborn child, co-starring Miranda Richardson and Donald Sutherland. We managed to get the lowdown on the story from the lovely Ms Reilly herself at last week's awards.
“It’s based on a novel and it’s a thriller, and it’s dark and beautiful. It’s about my character and her unborn child and what it’s facing. It’s a little bit creepy, but the way that only he can do it, Nick Roeg fashion. I’m very excited – and crapping myself at the same time, because so much of the time I’ve not had the responsibility. I could just come in and do the thing and hand it over, whereas this time it’s sort of a little bit more on my shoulders. But I’m ready for it and I’m really excited and it’s a beautiful script and a great part.”
She has also signed up for Lumber, a hard-hitting commentary on immigration and the sex trade.
“It’s one of the most beautiful scripts I’ve ever read. It’s all about a 10 year-old boy from the Congo who’s in search of his mother. He got sent over to England to stay with long-lost relatives to save him from the civil war. He’s basically waiting for his mother to come and join him, but he doesn’t know that his mother tried to join him years ago but got put into some sex slavery. My character becomes his best friend and goes on a search with him. It’s stunning. It’s not sentimental though; it’s really on the button.”