The actress from south Wales has built up a major portfolio of roles over the years, although that wasn’t her first passion
Aimee-Ffion Edwards plays the tough yet traumatised MI5 agent Shirley Dander in Slow Horses(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
If you love a good TV drama then perhaps you are aware that season six of Slow Horses has dropped on Apple TV. New episodes of the popular spy thriller series premiered on the streaming platform on Wednesday, September 16, and some fans have immediately cwtched up on the sofa to binge the series.
The series follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents and is lead by Gary Oldman who plays British intelligence officer Jackson Lamb. Starring alongside the actor is Newport-born Aimee-Ffion Edwards who plays the tough yet traumatised MI5 agent Shirley Dander in the series.
The actress from south Wales has built up a major portfolio of roles over the years, although that wasn’t her first passion. She admitted to The Guardian that she once “played rugby in a boys’ team” and that she originally wanted to play rugby for Wales.
In the interview she said: “That was all I cared about. And I did! I played one match for Wales. Then I was like, ‘I’ve done that. I think I’m going to do some acting.” For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
She then began her television career nearly two decades ago, going on to appear in a string of well-known productions, including Skins, Luther and Casualty before taking on Slow Horses. She has also featured in Being Human, Wolf Hall, Mr Burton and the much-loved crime drama Death in Paradise.
However, it is likely that most viewers will know her best from one of her biggest television roles – Peaky Blinders
Aimee-Ffion appeared across several episodes of the period crime drama Peaky Blinders, taking on the role of Esme Shelby between 2013 and 2017, before returning to the character in 2022. Esme, a member of the Lee gypsy family, appeared in the first series of the period drama.
She wed John Shelby (Joe Cole), brother of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy). The marriage was arranged to establish peace between the Shelby and Lee families, although the pair later formed a genuine connection.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan about the part, the actress said: “I feel like I got to do some really good stuff, and the storylines were really strong, and I could make the best of Esme.”
The 38-year-old actress recently appeared in ITV’s true crime drama Believe Me, which was based on the experiences of the victims of John Worboys. He became notorious as the ‘black cab rapist’ after preying on women while posing as a legitimate taxi driver. In 2009, he was found guilty of offences including sexual assault and drugging with intent against 12 women.
Speaking about her role as Sarah, one of Worboys’ victims in Believe Me, Aimee-Ffion said she “had quite a visceral response to reading” the script. She vaguely remembered the story, and despite concerns about doing the character justice she felt it was really important to share the stories of the victims.
She said: “I think there is always concern, because it’s a lot of pressure and a big responsibility. But I think when I read the script, it just felt such an important, vital story to tell. Like anybody else, you want to be part of important productions and storytelling such as Believe Me.
“So, I felt really lucky and really supported as well. Although there is a lot of responsibility in portraying a real-life character, I felt like there was help and support with that.”
Much like her character in Slow Horses the actress has used her native accent when appearing in Skins, Mr Burton and Believe Me, but she’ll soon be using her fluent Welsh when she appears in the dubbed version of Star Wars: A New Hope.
Earlier this year S4C announced that they have worked alongside the Welsh Government, Lucasfilm and Disney to produce the first ever Welsh version of Star Wars. The film, which will be called Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd, will air on S4C from Christmas Day onwards and will feature Aimee-Ffion as Princess Leia.
The actress will star alongside Matthew Rhys as Han Solo and Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Mark Lewis Jones will assume the role of Darth Vader, while emerging talent Osian Morgan provides the voice for Luke Skywalker.
When asked how she felt about taking on the role which was originally played by Carrie Fisher, Aimee-Ffion told The Guardian she was “pinching myself.”
She said: “That was so surreal, being in a booth, watching the film and lip-syncing I was going, ‘I don’t know how I got here, but I’m here – and I’m here for it.’
“It was amazing. And it’s brilliant the Welsh language dub is happening. I’d be excited even if I wasn’t in it.”
You can watch Slow Horses on Apple TV now.
