Phoebe Waller-Bridge has asserted herself as the U.K.’s new queen of television, scoring not one but two concurrent hits with the warts-and-all comedy of Fleabag and the espionage pas de deux of Killing Eve. With that reputation comes a certain gravitational pull; great performers start lining up to work with whoever they’ve heard is the new hot thing.

Performers like Fiona Shaw and Kristin Scott Thomas, both of whom were announced via Deadline as new additions to the Fleabag cast earlier today.

When Waller-Bridge returns for a second series at an unspecified date later this year to continue the misadventures of the dysfunctional title character, she’ll be joined by Shaw and Thomas in roles to be revealed. Her partnership with Shaw makes perfect sense, the pair having previously worked together on Killing Eve, and Thomas’ combination of sharp wit with emotional range (as demonstrated in across celebrated turns in Four Weddings and a Funeral, the English Patient, and more recently, The Party) makes her an ideal fit for Waller-Bridge’s world as well.

They’ll round out an already-eclectic ensemble including Bill Paterson, Brett Gelman, and newly minted Oscar nominee Olivia Colman, all of whom have been confirmed to reprise their roles later this year.

If nothing else (and, to be clear, there’s plenty else), Waller-Bridge has done commendable work of providing more mature actresses with substantive, unusual work. With Thomas and Shaw, she continues on her crusade.

Published 24 Jan 2019

Tags: Fiona Shaw Fleabag Kristin Scott Thomas Phoebe Waller-Bridge