Avengers star Hayley Atwell says playing a woman “who doesn’t rely on her beauty or her charm” was part of the appeal of her new play set in the world of private equity.

The actress plays Jenny in Dry Powder, a cold calculating businesswoman with no sense of the human cost of her decisions, in her first stage role in five years.

She said: “This was the first play I had read that had debunked female stereotypes and for me I hadn’t seen a female character like this before.

“There is no sexual chemistry, that’s new, she doesn’t rely on her beauty or her charm, she has none, she is someone who thinks in numbers and severely lacks emotional intelligence.

“Everything is very much compartmentalised, she sees things as an equation to be worked out.”

Atwell, who admits she was ignorant of the world of finance before taking on the role, spent time with the play’s writer, New Yorker Sarah Burgess, and with people who work in the industry as part of her research.

She said: “I had no interest in it so when I read the script for maybe the first quarter of it I was thinking I don’t really understand a lot of this but I know it’s really good writing, I know it’s very witty, I think the characters are very distinct and I’m understanding that there are different arguments going on.

“By the end of it it didn’t matter that I didn’t really understand the financial jargon.”

The actor on her return to the stage as a Wall Street villain, her debt to Emma Thompson and why she wouldn’t work with Woody Allen again

London-born Hayley Atwell, 35, graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2005 and within months landed her debut film role in Woody Allen’s Cassandra’s Dream. She has twice been Olivier award-nominated for stage roles, and after playing Peggy Carter in the Captain America films, landed her own TV spin-off, Marvel’s Agent Carter. She starred in autumn’s acclaimed BBC adaptation of Howards End and is currently making her debut at Hampstead theatre in Dry Powder.

You’re starring in Sarah Burgess’s Wall Street comedy Dry Powder. How’s it going?
It’s a real delight. I hadn’t been on stage for five years and was looking for something that jumped off the page, a female role with wit and chutzpah. The play’s set in the world of high finance and initially I didn’t understand the lingo or the rampant capitalism. But it grew on me. Turns out it’s very liberating to play someone who’s unapologetically ruthless.

Yes, your character Jenny is quite villainous…
She’s described as “a vampire” with “sociopathic tendencies”, yet Jenny’s happy with herself and sleeps well at night. She doesn’t have that moment where she breaks down and says “My daddy abused me” and the audience go “Aha, that’s why she’s such a bitch”. Sure, she lacks emotional intelligence and lives in a world of numbers, but if a man in her position displayed those qualities, he’d probably get a pat on the back.

Some more new photos of Hayley Atwell have been added to the gallery so, you can go there to take a look.

Gallery Link:
— ‘Dry Powder’ play, after party

Hayley Atwell performed ‘Dry Powder’ at Hampstead Theatre in London, yesterday (January 31, 2018). I have added some photos to the gallery so, please, go there to take a look and enjoy the pics!

Gallery Link:
— ‘Dry Powder’ Play performed at Hampstead Theatre (January 31, 2018)

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I have added some new portraits of Hayley Atwell to the gallery so, you can go there to take a look. Please, credit this site if you take the photos.

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Gallery Links:
— British Independent Film Awards – Portraits
— British Independent Film Awards – Photo Booth

Hayley Atwell attends the British Independent Film Awards held at Old Billingsgate on December 10, 2017 in London. You can go to the gallery to take a look to the photos. Hayley looks perfect! Please, credit this site if you take the pics.

Gallery Links:
— British Independent Film Awards – Press Room
— British Independent Film Awards – Backstage
— British Independent Film Awards – Show
— British Independent Film Awards