How Day of the Jackal’s Lashana Lynch Mastered “The Art of Lying” in Peacock Thriller

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As a fan who has followed Lashana Lynch‘s career with great admiration, I must say that her versatility as an actress is nothing short of astonishing. From her humble beginnings on The Bill to her latest role in Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal, she has consistently shown her ability to excel in a wide variety of genres.

Peacock’s “The Day of the Jackal” is a pulse-pounding thriller that presents its story from two unique viewpoints. The audience gets a glimpse into the narrative through the eyes of the skilled assassin, known as the Jackal (portrayed by Eddie Redmayne), while simultaneously following MI6 agent Bianca’s (played by Lashana Lynch) relentless pursuit to capture the elusive Jackal.

Ever since 2007, I’ve been gracing both big and small screens. My TV debut came when I landed the role of Precious Miller on an episode of The Bill. Fast forward five years, I made my film debut as Belle Newman in Fast Girls. But it was my portrayal of Rosaline Capulet in the 2017 period drama Still Star-Crossed that really put me on the map and gained me a wider fan base.

After that, Lynch has accumulated a steadily increasing collection of high-profile roles, including taking on the character of the new 007 in “No Time to Die”, portraying Miss Honey in the musical adaptation of “Matilda the Musical”, and depicting Maria Rambeau (former Air Force pilot and close friend of Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel) within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although Lynch is often recognized for her work in science fiction and fantasy genres, she’s quite accustomed to taking on more realistic, dramatic roles. In fact, as per Lynch herself, these types of roles aren’t significantly distinct.

Lashana Lynch Says All Good Fiction is Rooted in Truth

In a conversation with NBC Insider, Lynch expressed his fascination about the fantasy and sci-fi realms, stating that they are surprisingly grounded in reality. He further explained, “Immersing myself in this universe has been thrilling because there’s an underlying truth, perhaps just as much as these characters can uncover amidst all the deception surrounding them.

That truth is sometimes hidden in the show’s subtext while the lies are a little easier to see. The Jackal’s lies are obvious, he’s taking on false identities and hiding in the shadows to commit capital crimes, but Bianca’s lies are just as easy to see. She has the authority of the law to shield her but she’s above bending the truth or breaking it entirely if it’ll help her crack the case. “I think [Bianca’s] most favorite act is the art of lying and how to utilize that in the best way to bag the guy,” Lynch said.

Lynch’s experience acting in a wide variety of genres perfectly prepared her for inhabiting a story which straddles real-world drama and with high-stakes espionage. “It’s 10 mini-movies that help you dance between the espionage world, the drama world, and a few comedic moments that come through Bianca, I hope,” Lynch said.

The authenticity of emotion in her portrayal is so palpable that scenes where Bianca finds herself cornered evoke a greater sense of tension than anything the Jackal does. While superheroes may entertain and assassins may provoke fear, Bianca’s struggles resonate more profoundly, packing a punch far greater than any bullet from a sniper could.

Where to watch Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal?

The Day of the Jackal begins streaming on Peacock Thursday, November 14. 

The entire series spans 10 parts, starting with the first five episodes launching on November 14. After that, new episodes will follow each Thursday: Episode 6 on November 21, Episode 7 on November 28, Episode 8 on December 5, and finally wrapping up with a double episode finale on December 12.

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2024-11-13 20:01