Eve Myles: The Welsh star who almost quit acting for midwifery
As the chilling second series of The Crow Girl lands on Paramount Plus and Channel 5, Welsh actress Eve Myles is once again captivating audiences as DCI Jeanette Kilburn. But behind the screen lies a story of near-quitting, a famous husband, and the hardest thing she has ever done.
Who is Eve Myles married to?
Myles, 47, from the modest town of Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley, is married to fellow Welsh actor Bradley Freegard. The couple met at the National Youth Theatre in 1994, married in Italy in 2013, and have three daughters. Freegard is best known for playing the vanished husband Evan in the BBC’s Keeping Faith, opposite Myles herself.
Speaking on The Second Act podcast, Myles described Freegard as her “best friend” and “backbone”. “He is my world,” she said. “We met when we were 16.”
Why did Eve Myles almost quit acting?
Before her breakout role in Keeping Faith, Myles admitted to a “wobble” and considered a career as a midwife. “I signed up for midwifery,” she confessed. “Then this juggernaut came along. It was exactly what I needed.”
What was the hardest thing Eve Myles has ever done?
To star in the Welsh-language drama Keeping Faith, Myles had to master Welsh. She called it the “hardest thing I’ve ever done”. She told iNews: “Every morning I would get up at 5.30 and go for a run before the kids woke up. I would play my lines on my phone. I would be learning my lines as I was running.” She added: “I’m still petrified. Every time I open my mouth and speak Welsh, I think: ‘Who the hell is speaking?’ It’s like an out of body experience.”
How did Eve Myles handle the Broadchurch backlash?
Myles joined ITV’s Broadchurch in 2015 as suspect Claire Ripley. When some viewers dubbed the second series “Boredchurch”, she remained unfazed. “With something so successful, you’re going to get people not enjoying it as much as the first series,” she told Radio Times. “At least people are talking about it.”
What is Eve Myles watching to prepare for The Crow Girl?
To prepare for her role as DCI Kilburn, who hunts a serial killer preying on young men, Myles binged Channel 4’s true crime documentary series. “I watched every 24 Hours in Police Custody that’s ever been made,” she told The Independent. “And every forensic and serial killer show on the planet. That’s kind of the stuff I watch. I’m a little bit odd like that.”
What is The Crow Girl about?
The sinister psychological thriller follows DCI Jeanette Kilburn and Dr Sophia Craven as they investigate a grim murder enquiry. Series two is now streaming on Paramount Plus and airs on Channel 5 at 9pm on Monday, July 20.
FAQ
Is Eve Myles Welsh?
Yes, Eve Myles is Welsh, born in Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley.
How many children does Eve Myles have?
Eve Myles has three daughters with her husband, actor Bradley Freegard.
What is Eve Myles best known for?
She is best known for her roles in Keeping Faith, Broadchurch, and The Crow Girl.