trench coat + dress. Joseph
shoes. Toga Pulla
socks. Wolford
opposite
trench. Pinko
Izuka Hoyle knows a thing or two about creating a dynamic performance. The Scottish actress secured the prestigious title of ‘Best Actress in Film’ at the 2022 BAFTA Scotland Awards for her outstanding performance in the acclaimed film Boiling Point in addition to portraying characters in films like Mary Queen of Scots and Persuasion, playing opposite Saoirse Ronan and Dakota Johnson, respectively. Following this triumph, she is now gracing screens in the hilarious sitcom Big Boys as the ‘studios and serious Oxbridge reject’ Corinne.
Schön! Magazine chats with Hoyle about Big Boys, her BAFTA Scotland Award nomination for the role, and more.
jumper. Tod’s
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dress. Toga Pulla
shoes. Roker
Congratulations on your BAFTA Scotland Award nomination for Big Boys. Can you tell us what drew you to this project and the character of Corinne?
What drew me to the project was the script. As soon as it came through and I read it, I thought, “Oh my god. I have to be a part of this. I really hope I get this.” I thought the character was just brilliant. I hadn’t done comedy before, so all of those things combined just made me want to do it. It was in the writing; I just thought it was one of the best things I’d read in a while, and immediately I was hooked.
How do you prepare for a role like Corinne in Big Boys? Were there any specific challenges you faced while portraying her?
I wouldn’t say there were any specific challenges in preparing for it. I mean, it’s set in a specific time, 2013, and she’s 19 or 20 at that point. I was a lot younger than Corinne was at that age, so there were certain cultural references that I had to get to grips with and figure out how an adult would have been in that time because I was about 14 at that time. I also talked a lot with my friends who went to university to gather anecdotes and insights.
shirt. Femponiq
skirt. E.STOTT
shoes. CHYLAK
What can fans of Big Boys expect in the upcoming second season?
Fans of Big Boys can expect more of the same, but deeper. The second season will delve into character storylines and explore people’s stories in greater depth. Expect lots more laughs, probably some tears, and an exploration of the unlikely friendship between two young men.
The show explores an unlikely friendship between two young men. What do you think makes Big Boys unique in terms of its storytelling and characters?
What makes Big Boys unique is the way it seamlessly blends comedy and drama. While many sitcoms tend to favour comedy, Big Boys keeps things grounded in real truth even in heightened or stylized situations. This ability to balance humour and emotional depth sets it apart.
You’ve worked with a talented cast on Big Boys. Can you share any memorable behind-the-scenes moments or anecdotes from the set?
One of my favourite moments on set was when Jack, the writer, would visit my trailer wearing different pieces of someone else’s costume and perform a small show. It was always fun and made me laugh a lot. These moments happened quite often on set.
jumper. Tod’s
trousers. Nanamica
socks. Wolford
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jacket. Stella McCartney
In Big Boys, your character Corinne is part of an unlikely friendship dynamic. If you could describe your character’s personality using a song title, what would it be and why?
Corinne is named after Corinne Bailey Ray, and there are parallels between the artist and the character. I think “Butterfly” by Corinne Bailey Ray would capture her personality. Butterflies are multifaceted and beautiful, much like Corinne, who is multi-genre, surprising, and subversive.
As Big Boys ventures into its second season, can you give us a tantalizing hint or teaser about a memorable scene or storyline viewers can look forward to without giving away any spoilers?
Viewers can look forward to seeing a more vulnerable side of Corinne, especially in some scenes or storylines towards the end of the series. These moments will help viewers better understand why she acts the way she does.
dress. Toga Pulla
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trench coat. Pinko
dress. Joseph
shoes. Toga Pulla
socks. Wolford
Imagine Big Boys characters had a crossover episode with characters from one of your other projects. Which project would you choose for this crossover, and how do you think Corinne would interact with those characters?
I would love to see Corinne in a fantasy genre like ‘The Wheel of Time.’ Her comedic personality would be a delight to witness interacting with the characters in that world, including men, aliens, and creatures. It would create comedic gold.
You’ve portrayed historical figures on stage, like Catherine Parr and Emily Davison. If you could time travel and have a conversation with one of the characters you’ve portrayed, who would it be, and what would you ask them?
I would choose Emily Davison. I’d be interested to know if there was a specific event that was the catalyst for the suffragette movement. I’d ask if there was one experience that made her decide to fight for women’s rights to the extent she did, despite not fitting the traditional image of a freedom fighter.
If you could create your dream project from scratch, what type of story would it tell, and who would be your dream co-stars and director?
My dream project would be a multi-universe film trilogy with all my best friends as the cast. It would be a joyful, moving, and healing story. As for directors, I’d imagine a combination of Bradley Cooper, Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig, Ari Aster, and Guillermo del Toro – a dream team.
shirt. Femponiq
skirt. E.STOTT
shoes. CHYLAK
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trench coat + dress. Joseph
shoes. Toga Pulla
socks. Wolford
Big Boys is airing now.
photography. Jessica Mahaffey
fashion. Karen Munnis
talent. Izuka Hoyle
hair. Davinia Hazelwood
make up. Joy Adenuga @ 7even Management using By Joy Adenuga
retouch. Hannah Jeffery Retouch
production. Clara la Rosa
interview. Alper Kurtel
