Why The Agency’s Jodie Turner-Smith Approaches Every Project as if She Doesn’t ‘Know Anything’

While discussing her scene-stealing presence on screen, Jodie Turner-Smith opened up about how enriching it is to start fresh on a new project.
“I approach every project with the thought that I don’t know anything and I’m excited to learn,” Turner-Smith, 38, exclusively shares in the newest issue of Us Weekly. “Every human being has nuance and that’s based on who we are, how we were raised [and] what we believe in, and I try to infuse that into every character I play.”
Turner-Smith is applying that strategy to her newest role on Showtime’s The Agency.
“There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Sami,” she teased, referencing her character.

“People have to understand that the human experience is complicated no matter your religion, your race or your culture. And I want people to see that humanity and what to be on this journey with Sami.”
Based on the French series Le Bureau Des Légendes, The Agency is an espionage thriller set within the department responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents on long-term missions who live for years under false identities. The star-studded cast includes Turner-Smith, Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Katherine Waterston, John Magaro and more.
Turner-Smith was thrilled by the opportunity to act opposite Fassbender, 47, adding, “[I learned] so much. I did most of my [scenes] with him, and just getting to watch him perform and executive produce was a master class for me.”

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The experience even got Turner-Smith thinking about whether or not she would make a good secret agent.
“I put my all into everything I do. So if I chose that for my job, I would do it to the best of my ability. I would strive for greatness. [But] do I feel that would be a good job for me? No, I’d be so anxious,” she admitted before sharing her weapon of choice. “Necessity is the mother of invention. Anything, [like] a stiletto or a phone, can be [a weapon] if you need it to be.”
Showtime’s The Agency doesn’t just feature a stacked cast in front of the camera — it also boasts George Clooney as an executive producer.

“I never got to see George on set or anything like that but I did talk to him on the phone once. And we always felt the presence — while people may not have come to set — we felt the presence,” Turner-Smith continued. “We felt the love, we felt the energy and we felt the dedication to what it is that we were doing.”
Turner-Smith said won’t forget the lessons she learned on set, adding, “At no point during this whole process can I say that, I’ve felt like, ‘Where are the people?’ It’s felt. Also we just shot this and it’s coming out right now.”
She continued: “I love that Paramount is not one of those studios that’s doing a million different things and it’s just content, content, content. They are focusing their attention specifically on those few things that they have, and they’re giving all of their heart, soul and money into that. That’s so affirming as a performer.”
For more details on Turner-Smith’s role on The Agency, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
The Agency is available to stream on Fridays and airs on Showtime Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.