Kaya Scodelario has revealed she messaged co-star Maya Jama to tell her to be on her toes ahead of her acting debut in The Gentlemen.
The 34-year-old British actress reached out directly to Jama, 32, to offer support and guidance as the popular television presenter prepared to make her formal dramatic debut in the hit Netflix series.
Jama is portraying Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate linked to the show's main character, Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James.
Scodelario returns for the second season of director Guy Ritchie's television series as Susie Glass, the impeccably styled daughter of an incarcerated mobster who manages a vast illegal cannabis empire operating across historic English country estates.
To ease Jama's nerves ahead of her first major acting stint, Scodelario slid into her co-star's direct messages on social media to share practical advice about working on a busy drama set.
Scodelario explained to Grazia magazine that she wanted to give her new colleague an honest assessment of what to expect during production.
She told the publication: "I just said, 'Hey, babe, heads up! This is going to not be what you expect. Be ready to be on your toes and trust the process.'"
Scodelario added that she recognized how intimidating it can feel to step into an entirely new phase of a career, particularly when coming from a working-class background without traditional industry connections.
She said: "I knew how intimidating it is stepping into a new part of your career and coming from a working class background. I just wanted her to know that I'm a girls' girl."
Working Class Roots and Industry Representation
Scodelario, who was raised by her Brazilian mother and grew up immersed in Brazilian culture, explained that she felt a strong protective instinct toward Jama because she considers working-class actors to be a distinct minority in screen entertainment.
Jama similarly prides herself on building a career despite growing up with very little money and no family connections to the television industry, having relocated from Bristol to London at age 16 to build her career in broadcasting.
Speaking about her ongoing perspective as an established actress, Scodelario emphasised that class disparities remain noticeable within British film and television circles.
She told Grazia: "I absolutely still feel like I am a minority as a working-class actor. I'll be at a work dinner party and maybe one or two people will sound like me, but certainly not everyone else."
Scodelario pursued acting full-time just two years after earning her breakout role as Effy Stonem in the E4 teen drama series Skins at the age of 14, eventually leaving home at age 16 with just £36.50 in her bank account.
Jama noted that joining the cast of The Gentlemen felt like a safe entrance point into professional acting after harbouring a long-standing personal ambition to act.
After auditioning for the production last year, Jama secured the role of Aisha less than two weeks later.
The presenter subsequently worked closely with a professional drama coach to ensure she was fully prepared for the demands of the camera, telling Variety magazine: "I never want to do something and be s*** at it."
The Gentlemen Success and Season Renewal
The Gentlemen was created by filmmaker Guy Ritchie as a television spin-off inspired by his 2019 action-comedy film of the same title.
The star-studded series quickly became one of Netflix's biggest global hits following its release in 2024, attracting 44 million views within its first four weeks on the platform.
Official confirmation that a third series has been greenlit by Netflix arrived on Monday, coinciding with the launch of the official trailer for season two ahead of its scheduled release date on September 3.
Romance with Director Eran Creevy
In addition to her television work, Scodelario recently made headlines after going public with director Eran Creevy, marking her first public relationship since her divorce from actor Benjamin Walker.
The actress was recently seen kissing the 50-year-old filmmaker, who directed two episodes of the second season of The Gentlemen.
Creevy posted a romantic photograph of the couple kissing while attending a concert last month, while Scodelario posted a collection of throwback images from filming season one, including a selfie featuring her co-stars alongside her new partner.
Sources told The Sun: "Eran and Kaya are in the early stages of a relationship and have seen their romance blossom over the summer. There is speculation that they may make their red carpet debut together at The Gentlemen premiere [this] week."
Scodelario and Walker publicly announced their split in February 2024, ending a marriage that began in 2015 after they met while filming the fantasy film The King's Daughter in April 2015.
The former couple share two children together, having welcomed a son in November 2016 and a daughter in December 2021.
