‘I’m fearless. I was in a boys’ rugby team’: Slow Horses’ Aimee-Ffion Edwards on playing a cocaine-snorting spy
Actress Aimee‑Ffion Edwards shares how her rugby background fuels her fearless stunt work in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, her pride in representing Welsh accents, and her excitement about voicing Princess Leia in the first Welsh‑language Star Wars dub.
Aimee‑Ffion Edwards, known for her tough MI5 agent role in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, recently opened up about the adrenaline of performing her own stunts and the pride she feels in bringing a Welsh voice to iconic characters.
Stunt‑savvy from Rugby Roots
During a high‑risk balcony jump in the series, Edwards recalled the moment she had to convince herself she was safe. “You tell yourself, ‘You’re not jumping.’ But you also think, ‘This is mad!’” she laughed. The scene required her to leap from a balcony onto a stuntman, a move she repeated five or six times. At 38, she knew the impact would linger the next day, yet her experience playing rugby in a boys’ team gave her a natural fearlessness that helped her keep her composure.
Welsh Identity on the Global Stage
Born and raised in Newport, Wales, Edwards has always carried a strong sense of belonging to a pack. She commutes to London for work, but she is delighted that her authentic Welsh accent is not a talking point in Slow Horses. “Nobody ever mentions it,” she says. “It’s good to normalise it.” She contrasts this with the novelty often attached to Welsh accents in comedy, noting that they are underrepresented in mainstream media.
Her career has seen her adopt a variety of accents: a Brummie voice for a criminal role in Peaky Blinders and a southern one for a manipulative character in Wolf Hall. Yet, as the series progresses, she has been able to lean more into her Welsh identity, especially in her upcoming role as Richard Burton’s older sister Cis in the 2025 film Mr Burton.
From Skins to Star Wars: A Versatile Performer
Edwards’ first major role was as the stalker Sketch in the teen drama Skins. She now finds herself voicing Princess Leia in the first Welsh‑language dub of the 1977 classic, scheduled for broadcast in Wales on Christmas Day. She described the experience as surreal, saying she was “pinching herself” while lip‑syncing in a booth. The project, she added, is a milestone for Welsh‑language media.
Character Depth and Emotional Complexity
Season six of Slow Horses dives deeper into the emotional fallout of the death of Marcus, played by Kadiff Kirwan. Edwards said the loss was “quite a lonely experience” and that the relationship between her character Shirley and Marcus was “purely platonic but full of love and frustration.” The tragedy pushes Shirley to confront her own emotional cowardice, adding layers to her already volatile personality.
Edwards is drawn to roles that explore contradictions in women. “I’m fascinated by people’s strengths,” she says. She sees Shirley as a “stench” of “Try it – come and get it” who struggles to communicate her feelings. This complexity, she believes, makes the character both relatable and compelling.
Life Off Camera
When she’s not filming, Edwards enjoys swimming, running and woodworking. She often makes furniture in her garage and says that if she ever left acting, she would love to be a carpenter and own a dog. She keeps her social media presence minimal, preferring to focus on her craft rather than personal updates.
Edwards values her privacy, especially in her hometown of Newport, where she feels she can live a “normal life.” She has received messages from fans who only knew her from a brief appearance on the quiz show Pointless, illustrating how her career has expanded beyond early roles.
Looking Ahead
With the release of the Welsh‑language Star Wars dub and the upcoming season of Slow Horses, Edwards is poised to continue breaking ground for Welsh representation in international media. Her blend of physical daring, emotional depth, and cultural authenticity makes her a standout talent in contemporary television and film.
Why it matters
Edwards’ story highlights how diverse cultural backgrounds can enrich mainstream media, offering fresh perspectives and authentic representation while inspiring audiences worldwide.
Key points
- Aimee‑Ffion Edwards draws on rugby experience for fearless stunts in Slow Horses
- She proudly represents Welsh accents in mainstream TV and film
- Edwards voices Princess Leia in the first Welsh‑language Star Wars dub
- Her character Shirley’s emotional journey deepens in Season 6
- Outside acting, she enjoys woodworking and values privacy
Frequently asked questions
What stunt did Aimee‑Ffion Edwards perform in Slow Horses?
She jumped from a balcony onto a stuntman, repeating the move five or six times during filming.
How does Edwards feel about her Welsh accent in her roles?
She is proud and believes it should be normalised, noting it is often underrepresented.
What other major role is Edwards set to play?
She will voice Princess Leia in the first Welsh‑language dub of Star Wars, airing on Christmas Day.
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