Jodie Comer was forced to abruptly abandon a performance of Suzie Miller’s play “Prima Facie” on Wednesday after skies over New York City were filled with smoke spreading south from Canadian wildfires.
According to eyewitnesses spoken to diversityThe ‘Killing Eve’ actress – who stars in the one woman Broadway show – told the audience she couldn’t breathe. A stage manager then helped Comer backstage just ten minutes into the matinee performance.
According to a production spokesman, Comer’s understudy Dani Arlington stepped in to start the play over.
The Big Apple has been grappling with unhealthy air quality for two days as Canadian wildfires sent smoke and haze drifting across the US northeast. Many New Yorkers find it hard to breathe under the orange, campfire-scented sky.
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Comer received rave reviews for “Prima Facie,” about a young lawyer who is raped by a colleague.
She was nominated for a Tony Award in May, having already received an Olivier Award and an Evening Standard Theater Award for the role.
The English actress was beside herself during the conversation The New York Times about her nomination last month.
“We were on a big journey with this piece,” Comer told the newspaper. “I never thought we would be at this point. It just feels amazing.”
“The response has been great and I’m just really, really grateful that so many in the team have also received recognition,” she continued. “I can’t stress enough how much team effort this piece really represents.”
