Spoilers for Slow horses Season 4, episode 6!Apple TV+ series, Slow horsesis a television adaptation of the popular book series by award-winning writer Mick Herron. It follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in an MI5 junkyard unit called Slough House, a purgatory for “slow horses” who have made career-ending mistakes. Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but hot-headed spy leader. The fourth season of Slow Horses, currently streaming in its entirety, is adapted from the fourth book in the series.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards has joined Slow horses played Shirley Dunder in the second season. Although she is no stranger to the screen, she is more widely known as a voice actress for animated series such as The thunderbirds are leaving And Dalmatina street, 101and video games, including Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla And Elden Ring.
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On-screen rant interviewed Aimee-Ffion Edwards, discussing her devastating loss in the final Slow horses Season 4. She details where she thinks Shirley will go and what it was like filming such an intense moment. Edwards also talks about working with Gary Oldman and what she learned from him.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards wasn’t looking forward to filming the Season 4 finale
“I’m honored to do this with Cadiff. Because there is no Shirley without Marcus, and there is no Marcus without Cadiff.”
Screen Rant: What it was like filming the finale Slow horses Season 4?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: Shirley started this journey with Marcus, so we knew there was going to be a day we weren’t looking forward to. It was pretty intense. I think we were both very sad. We found the whole season very stressful. But yeah, the last episode is so amazing. The stakes are very high for both us actors and the characters. I am honored to do this with Cadiff. Because there is no Shirley without Marcus and there is no Marcus without Cadiff.
We developed a truly unique, wonderful platonic relationship. Most of the relationship is banter, laughing, having fun and being rude to each other. But you know, I think there’s a lot of love, there’s a lot of respect deep down. And it was very difficult to end this. It’s an amazing storyline and a great way to end the season.
Screen Rant: After Shirley loses Marcus, she doesn’t know how to cope.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: When we film something at Slough House, there’s something incredible about the building. The details that the designers put into it are felt, there is oppression. It’s like a character in itself. And it really influences your time on set, the lighting and the sequencing aspect, it helps a lot. You spend a lot of time filming these scenes and embodying these feelings. When you’ve been doing a show for so long, it also feels a little personal. It can’t help but no. So you really want to act intuitively, and I was angry, very angry.
Screen Rant: Where do you think Shirley will go next? How do you think she will refuse this?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: I think she’s always a day away from chaos. But a good day away from getting back on track. I think what I like about her is that you never know if she’s having a good day or a bad day. And there is so much freedom in this. I think she has something to show. She, like everyone else, was affected by the events of the fourth season. And what will happen next? Watch this space.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards loves group scenes in the office
“I think that’s what really helps the audience relate to these characters, because they feel like a big, dysfunctional family.”
Screen Rant: Was there anything this season that you were looking forward to filming because it was such a terrible day?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: I’ve always said this, but I always love the big scenes where everyone’s in the office and bouncing off each other and digging. This dynamic is so brilliant. I think this show does that amazingly. The ordinary is so extraordinarily ordinary, and I think that’s what really helps the audience relate to these characters because they feel like a big, dysfunctional family. They can’t leave each other.
It’s not just everyone’s lines, but the script is so rich, detailed and brilliant. We all have so many opportunities to be heroes, but also to be absolute buffoons. And I think these are intermediate points, answers. Sometimes when the characters don’t have an answer, there’s this amazing moment where Tom Brooke’s character is just telling Shirley about herself, about how she just hates herself. He projects all this onto markers. This is one of the first times where she just doesn’t come back because she knows it’s true. It’s a really great moment because it says so much about her.
Screen Rant: It seems that the audience Slow horses grows every season. How does it feel?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: It’s really interesting. And it’s such a privilege. I think those shows that grow in popularity through word of mouth, I think they’re special. You’re in it because you want to entertain, you want to tell stories, and so to be a part of something that appeals to such a wide audience of people, it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be a part of it. What. I’m really proud of this.
Reading books about Slough House helped Aimee-Ffion Edwards
“I think they did an amazing job of creating Mick Herron’s world and his tone. It’s dark and dirty.”
Screen Rant: Have you read the books?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: Yes. I actually didn’t know about them before auditioning. But once I found out what the project was, I started reading. It’s really useful because it’s good to know the world you’re in. I think they did an amazing job of creating Mick Herron’s world and tone. Dark, dirty. I think Mick Herron is brilliant at this. And the script, Will Smith, is an amazing writer. He is so smart, generous and sympathetic. He took this world, improved it a little and just added so much magic and nuance and opportunity for us to play and grow.
Screen Rant: Is there anything that surprised you about Shirley’s journey through the seasons?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: Yeah, I think how unpredictable she is. I’m always surprised by her. It’s so nice to play because there are no rules. You can go anywhere and you don’t know where she will go. At times I think she might react or act in a certain way that seems a little out of character. And it’s really fun to play. But, you know, Will Smith gave us the opportunity to do that and find those nuances and find some depth and find new little dynamics with each other. I never know where they’re going to take it. This is really great.
Gary Oldman from Slow Horses is full of stories and anecdotes
“Every day is a day of learning in a fun and privileged way. And I’m going to take advantage of it if I can.”
Screen Rant: What was it like working with Gary Oldman?
Aimee-Ffion Edwards: He’s incredibly generous. He is an amazing person to work with. Just very generous, lively and brilliant. It allows you to really be present and bounce off of it. There were times when I just had to sit in a room and I didn’t have any lines and I could just be alive and present and be Shirley, even though Shirley doesn’t like him that much, I can enjoy him myself. It’s interesting to watch. Every day is a day of learning in a fun and privileged way. And I’m going to grab it if I can. But he’s very funny.
It’s full of stories and anecdotes, so it’s never boring. I think he’s fearless. But I think role-wise he can make something out of nothing. He’s like a little boy. I think that’s the thing, there’s curiosity in him. There’s a curiosity in every line and every moment, and it’s really fun to be a part of and watch. I think fearlessness is quite contagious. It’s fun, like you have to be on your toes. And have a space where you feel safe to do it creatively. It’s so cool to have that because you can make magic out of it and you don’t know what’s going to happen.
About Slow Horses Season 4
Slow Horses is an adaptation of Mick Herron’s CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning first novel in the Slow Horses series, which follows a team of British intelligence agents serving in MI5’s junkyard unit, Slough House. Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the brilliant but hot-tempered leader of the spies who end up in Slough House after making career-ending mistakes.
Check out our other interviews about Slow Horses Season 4: