Thomasin McKenzie On Her Powerful IVF Drama 'Joy'
In the wake of the 2024 US elections and Donald Trump’s re-election to the White House, uncertainty surrounding women’s reproductive rights continues to loom large. In the UK, it was only in September that long-awaited safe access zones around abortion clinics were implemented in England and Wales, and still, 49% of women in the UK face barriers to contraception access, as reported by BPAS.
With the right to abortion increasingly under threat and a marked regression of reproductive rights across the world, protecting body autonomy feels all too urgent.
It's a struggle mirrored all too well in Netflix's new biographical drama, Joy, which traces the story of the world's first IVF baby – born just five years after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision – and the team that made it happen. It's written by celebrated playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne and directed by Ben Taylor (Sex Education).
So, when Thomasin McKenzie – an actor known for taking on roles that champion women's rights and important stories like Lost Girls, Eileen and Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story –first heard of the project, saying yes was a no-brainer. 'The basis of Joy is choice, and that women need to have control over their own bodies. I wanted to be a part of a project that brought that story to light,' she tells ELLE UK.
Set in the 60s and 70s, McKenzie plays the role of Jean Purdy, the nurse and embryologist who held a pivotal role in creating IVF, alongside surgeon Patrick Steptoe (played by Bill Nighy) and scientist Robert Edwards (James Norton). Their decade long pursuit to providing women and their families with the hopes of having children is staggering to watch on screen.
The film centres on the painstakingly important work of Purdy, who led the piecing together of key elements that created IVF. She has long been overlooked by academia and the media – much of the credit is given to her male colleagues (who tried mostly in vain to champion her).
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While McKenzie is no stranger to playing significant roles, this marks a seminal career pressure point. It's her first character that she's playing that is older than she is. It's also a story shamefully undertold. Of course, the actor welcomed the challenge. 'There's a lot of responsibility whenever you're playing a real person,' she says. 'You want to do them justice and give them that respect.'
McKenzie's commitment to a sense of authenticity and her character's spirit shines through on screen – a character who sadly passed away in 1985. McKenzie tells ELLE UK that it all began with the extensive research she undertook for the role. 'I found where Jean lived in Cambridge with her mother,' she recalls. Not only this, she toured the hospital where Purdy worked, observing embryologists and speaking to the team about IVF and couples going through the procedure today.
McKenzie zoomed into the smallest details, including learning how to replicate Purdy's handwriting. 'Jean did a lot of writing in notebooks, so I worked on mimicking her handwriting,' she says. In portraying Jean, McKenzie brings a quiet yet powerful strength to the character, capturing both Purdy's determination and compassionate nature, despite facing adversity from the press and church – Purdy was a devout Catholic, estranged from her mother and rejected by her religious community for what was considered controversial worth. That powerful sacrifice plays out in McKenzie's intricate performance.
As for working alongside Norton and Nighy, McKenzie describes the experience as enriching and full of energy. 'Bill was a constant source of joy, always singing an making everyone smile. James was so much fun to be around, always so uplifting,' she says. 'I really loved working with both of them. It was such a special experience, and I'm excited to have shared this journey with them.'
Since production began, McKenzie has moved to London – hardly a quiet haven between the whirlwind of filming, yet she has found comfort in the little things. 'It’s important not to lose yourself in your work. I light a candle at the end of the day to indicate, 'Okay, you're done with work and now it's time to rest and do some self care,' she says. She looks to her mother constantly for advice and guidance.
Now, McKenzie is happy to be a bit of a homebody in the quiet of her London flat when she needs, while stepping out to experience the arts and culture that London has to offer. Coming from Wellington, New Zealand, McKenzie finds the vibrant energy and fast rhythm of life in London thrilling.
And today, she's leaning into sisterhood to get that balance amid her burgeoning career. 'I've been friends with the same group of people since I was five,' she says, reflecting on the lasting bonds that have shaped her. 'They're the kind of friends where you don't need to check in every day – weeks or months might go by, but you know you'll always have each other's backs.'
Despite her assured performances on screen, McKenzie has often been more reserved in her personal life. 'I’ve always been quite shy,' she admits. Those close friendships have been a powerful source of support. 'It's so important to have people who champion you,' she says. These friendships help her navigate self-doubt, and grow both personally and professionally.
As her career continues to evolve, it's clear that she remains firm in holding things and people that matter most to her, while using her platform to give voice to important causes – her role in Joy being one of many, and more to come.
Joy is available to stream on Netflix now
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