Patience star: ‘It’s common for dramas to infantilise autistic women’

In her late teenage years, Ella Maisy Purvis, the rising star of the Channel 4 crime drama titled Patience, was informed that she had autism. She was cautioned that using the “discriminatory” term could hinder her personal growth and opportunities in life.

Upon encountering Purvis for the first time, you’ll immediately notice her unstoppable spirit. With a captivating charm, she has no qualms about expressing her self-confidence, making it quite clear that she considers herself extraordinary.

It’s not surprising, given the circumstances, that at only 20 years old she landed her first leading role as Patience Evans, a meticulous and socially awkward woman working in the Yorkshire Police’s criminal records department. This character eventually assists Detective Bea Metcalf, portrayed by Laura Fraser, with her investigations.

In various TV crime dramas like Death in Paradise (with Ben Miller’s Professor T and Ralf Little’s DI Neville Parker) and The Bridge (featuring Saga Noren), as well as Ludwig with David Mitchell’s character John Taylor, there are instances where the protagonists exhibit traits that suggest neurodivergence. However, it is not always overtly stated in these shows.

However, unlike other similar shows, this drama (originally based on the French series “Astrid et Raphaëlle,” available on Channel 4 streaming as “Astrid: Murder in Paris) paves a new path with its casting of Purvis, who found the role particularly moving due to its sensitive portrayal.

While I appreciate other dramas, they often portray disabled characters, particularly autistic women, in a simplified manner. However, Patience isn’t like that. Despite her misunderstandings, social faux pas, and difficulties navigating the world, she exhibits remarkable strength, determination, and a keen sense of justice. She’s not weak; quite the contrary, she’s cool. Although she faces challenges, these are presented with genuine empathy and sensitivity. And let’s not forget her stylish collection of turtlenecks!

At age 17, Purvis experienced a significant shift in her interests, leading her with unwavering conviction to abandon ballet in favor of acting. While she didn’t have an autism diagnosis at the time, she believes this sudden change was partly due to her autism, as well as her inability to maintain silence during dance classes due to her chatty nature.

She attended acting classes at LAMDA, the well-known London drama school that has nurtured talents such as Jim Broadbent, Ruth Wilson, and Benedict Cumberbatch. This eventually led to a brief appearance in Netflix’s Heartstopper (episode four, minute one hour and 12 seconds) as ‘Girl number one’. Following this, she secured a minor role in the CBBC drama A Kind of Spark, which showcased neurodivergent actors, some of whom are still her friends. Leveraging these connections, she successfully convinced producers to offer her a more significant part in series two.

In her inaugural main character performance, Purvis is given the opportunity to incorporate her personal experiences into the role, despite the stark contrast between herself and the character, Patience. “She’s quite introspective, while I’m more outgoing,” she chuckles, with a hint of modesty. “I’ve been advised to play myself in shaping Patience – her wardrobe, her preferences, what she dislikes – it was a very liberating and trusting process,” she explains. She also had the ultimate decision-making authority regarding the casting of Patience’s cat.

Despite some differences, there are similarities between the actor and the character they play. For instance, in one scene where Patience makes a phone call, having carefully planned every possible dialogue scenario in a notebook, only to be taken off guard by an unforeseen response, caused laughter during a press preview.

In a moment, as she’s seated next to her, Laura Fraser speaks up: “Does it offend you when the crowd laughs?

Purvis’s response is unyielding. “No! Patience is never made fun of, she’s not the target. In fact, she’s often the one telling the jokes, even if she doesn’t always consciously realize it.

During our chat, Fraser, who’s 49 years old, prefers to let her co-star take center stage. Their bond grew stronger a week before filming started, as Fraser observed Purvis quietly placing sticky notes on her.

According to Fraser, she penned sweet messages, such as “I appreciate you,” which later evolved into composing lengthy letters exchanged through our room doors, feigning the roles of old-fashioned Victorian pen pals.

“Is this usual?” she asks. Fraser smiles. “No! But I loved it, it was so nice.”

In the portrayal on screen, Bea Metcalf (played by Fraser) and Patience share a tender bond that’s filled with kindness, devoid of the conflicts often anticipated. Instead, their dynamic exudes a nurturing, motherly vibe.

Fraser mentions that Bea isn’t always emotionally stable, but she is receptive to Patience’s qualities and strengths. By the close of episode one, a bond between them starts to develop – it seems much like a romantic relationship – which empowers Bea to bring about transformations in her personal life.

Purvis observes: “Bea is the first person who treats Patience like a person.”

In a heartwarming manner, Fraser admits that she strongly identified with Patience and felt understood – much like her habit of carrying two umbrellas as a precaution. “I always keep two of everything in my bag,” says Fraser. “I’m quite prepared.” She reminisces about losing an umbrella for the first time in a decade, causing her distress. “I should have had two – what was I thinking?” she questions herself.

Delving beyond routine scenarios, the narrative unfolds in a six-part sequence. It delves deeper into Patience’s life through childhood recollections and encounters at an autism support group, portrayed authentically by neurodiverse performers.

During a brief hiatus from acting, Fraser is penning a novel (exclusively non-crime related, she insists), while Purvis is slated for a role in UKTV’s Bergerac remake. Does she seem to be making her way through the roster of cop shows? Does she have a preferred one?

In an instant,” she exclaims, reiterating the trio of words, this time accentuated by punctuation, as she extols the virtues of Vicky McClure. She makes a heartfelt request for Jed Mercurio to return to his workstation and continue creating.

2025-01-07 21:06

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