Jodie Turner-Smith Continues to Rediscover Herself Time and Time Again

      (Image credit: Alex de Mora; Styling: Burberry coat) At 7:37 a.m. on a sweltering summer Friday in my Brooklyn apartment, I find myself in a film class led by actress Jodie Turner-Smith. It resembles one of those virtual MasterClass sessions you've come across on your TikTok feed, but it's happening live over Zoom. She’s in her London apartment, yet it feels as though we are in the same room as she gestures and asks, “Do you have it on your screen?” I barely manage to say yes when she enthusiastically says, “Click play!” I begin the 1998 crime thriller Belly directed by Hype Williams, and I'm acutely aware that Turner-Smith is watching my reactions. She can hear the music and knows exactly where I’m at in the film. An a cappella rendition of "Back to Life" by Soul II Soul plays as Nas and DMX navigate a crowded dance floor illuminated by neon blue lights. “This might be the coolest intro ever!” she exclaims eagerly, searching my face for agreement. “Don’t you think?” I concur, not only because I value her perspective but also because the opening perfectly encapsulates the essence of the '90s club scene, evoking a nostalgia for an experience I never had. “Some people didn’t get it, and that makes me sad,” she laughs.

      One third of our conversation centers around Turner-Smith sharing her favorite films, discussing those that shaped her career and those that resonate with her sense of style. She mentions at least 20 movies, from Vagabond to Housesitter to Cleo From 5 to 7, explaining how this list educated her about acting.

      (Image credit: Alex de Mora; Styling: Ferragamo dress and shoes; Falke tights) “I always joke that I went to film school through the Criterion Collection,” the British actress shares. “I would sit in my apartment watching films and analyzing performances.” Unlike many of her contemporaries, Turner-Smith didn’t always aspire to be in the entertainment industry. “My first experience with acting wasn’t driven by a strong desire to perform,” she clarifies. “It was more, ‘Let me just try this and see what happens.’” Before taking that leap, she initially worked in corporate banking, which she describes as a path aligned with what she thought she should do rather than what she wanted. However, observing the passion of those around her made her realize she had to make a change. “People would say, ‘Wow, it’s so brave that you did that,’ but for me, I was just more afraid of not trying!” she reveals. “I never felt brave; I was terrified, but the fear of not doing it drove me to take the plunge.”

      After briefly exploring writing, Turner-Smith was encouraged by “the adults” in her life to pursue modeling. It’s hard to picture her tall figure confined to a corporate banking office. “At that point, having ticked all those boxes and resolved to make a change, I adopted a mindset of having nothing to lose and everything to gain by experimenting.” She decided to move to Los Angeles, believing it was a place to achieve success. “But I didn’t even know that L.A. isn’t really where you go to become a successful model,” she admits. While her modeling career didn’t excel as she had hoped, it did lead to numerous television commercial bookings, which helped her join the actors’ union. A new career shift seemed inevitable, and she soon began auditioning for small films.

      (Image credit: Alex de Mora; Styling: Burberry coat) “I had an audition experience for a film I didn’t get,” Turner-Smith recalls. “However, the process and preparation changed something within me.” While rejection motivates some, she found that unexpected self-discovery pushed her forward. “I realized that as humans, we often try to hide our shadows. We don’t show the less attractive parts of ourselves. I came to understand that the aspects I want to conceal belong to me, and I can incorporate them into my craft. That felt liberating. It was in that moment I truly fell in love with acting.” In November 2018, she got her breakthrough role in Queen & Slim, a film by Melina Matsoukas about a young couple on the run for killing a police officer in self-defense. Turner-Smith portrayed the titular Queen alongside Daniel Kaluuya's Slim. The film received critical acclaim—the New York Times Magazine even published an article in 2019 titled "'Queen & Slim' Could Be One of the Great Love Stories of All Time—If You Let It"—and sparked discussions on police brutality. It was the role that catapulted her into mainstream recognition. Reflecting on this pivotal point in her career, Turner-Smith momentarily looks off-camera as she tries to recall a quote from an Interview