Ruby Sear on The Gentlemen Season 2 and DC’s Clayface
Ruby Sear has spent 2026 returning to one of her most intriguing roles while preparing for an entirely different kind of transformation. After introducing Gabrielle as the elusive grifter at the center of one of The Gentlemen’s first-season deceptions, Sear is back for the series’ second chapter, with a place in James Watkins’ Clayface also bringing her into the expanding DC Universe.
Gabrielle first entered The Gentlemen through Jimmy, seemingly as a chance romantic encounter before her connection to Stanley Johnston came into focus. Manipulating him allowed her to gather valuable information about the Glass family’s cannabis operation, making her an effective part of Johnston’s campaign against the organization. Season 2 shifts those loyalties considerably. Gabrielle is now working alongside Susie, applying the same talent for observation, surveillance, and subterfuge to the empire she once helped undermine.
Her return comes as The Gentlemen itself moves into a larger arena, with Eddie and Susie extending their operation into Northern Italy and encountering Mafia complications, lakeside wealth, and a broader network of criminal interests. Gabrielle’s new position within that expansion also changes the relationship at the heart of Sear’s storyline. After spending the first season on opposing sides, she and Susie are now forced into much closer proximity, giving Sear and Kaya Scodelario new ground to explore between two characters already well acquainted with deception.
From there, Sear is moving into considerably darker territory. Directed by James Watkins, Clayface draws on body horror for its take on the DC character, following actor Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, through a grotesque physical transformation. The film joins a DC Universe that has increasingly made room for individual filmmakers to approach comic-book mythology through very different genres, with horror providing Clayface its own distinct corner.
Acting is only one part of Sear’s creative life. Her interests also reach into music, fashion, and visual art, and recent time in the recording studio has offered another outlet for ideas that might otherwise take shape in front of a camera. With Gabrielle entering a new phase, Clayface ahead, and those interests continuing to develop alongside her screen work, Stardust caught up with Sear to discuss returning to The Gentlemen, stepping into the world of DC, and what she hopes to create next.
Gabrielle began The Gentlemen as a mysterious figure working against the Glass organization, but Season 2 brings her into Susie's operation. What interested you most about exploring this new position for her?
Ruby Sear: I was really excited to see what working for Susie would look like. It was fun working alongside Kaya and being part of the main family ensemble scenes. I got to work with so much of the cast, which was brilliant, and it was a great experience seeing how everyone works. A lot of the scenes were very action-based, which I found a fun challenge. It was good practice in doing less and making those heightened scenarios feel grounded, whilst still being free and playful in the moment.
Which aspects of her personality or abilities did you most enjoy developing this season?
Ruby Sear: It was really exciting going into Season 2 knowing Gabrielle but also exploring new aspects of her and peeling back layers I hadn’t explored before. I delved more into her physicality and the way she carries herself in the world. It was fun playing around with her movement, her walk, and how she enters each room. She’s quite a chameleon and very observant, and I enjoyed tapping into that in each scene.
Gabrielle and Susie have a different working relationship in Season 2. How did you and Kaya Scodelario approach that changing dynamic?
Ruby Sear: In Season 2, we got to spend a lot of the first block of filming in Italy, which was such an incredible few weeks. Naturally, Kaya and I hung out a lot more since we were staying nearby and had plenty of downtime in the evenings to get to know each other over a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine. This helped build our relationship, which, of course, helps you connect at work and on screen.
As you mentioned, Season 2 expands the story to Italy. How did the broader scale affect the atmosphere of the series and your experience returning to its world?
Ruby Sear: Working in Italy was extremely surreal. On my first day on set, I felt quite emotional and had a huge wave of gratitude. Getting to spend time with the lovely cast and crew, both on and off set, in a place as serene as Lake Maggiore was definitely a highlight of my year. It was also amazing connecting with all the additional cast and crew that Italy brought into the world. Everyone fit in like family.
What felt like the biggest change from Season 2 to Season 3, whether in your experience on set or in how your character develops?
Ruby Sear: For me, the biggest change was simply that it was the second time doing it, so everyone was much more familiar with each other and knew what to expect. There was more room to play around and relax into it. The Gentlemen was also my first ever role, so the first time round I didn’t know what to expect and was a bit nervous. This time, I felt much more confident going into it. I still get some nerves with every job, of course, but I felt I knew the character and the world much better.
You’re also joining the DC Universe in Clayface, which brings a body-horror perspective to the comic-book world. What drew you to the project and its darker take on the character?
Ruby Sear: If I’m honest, it was quite discreet when I auditioned, so I didn’t really know what I was going up for. But the minute I got offered the part and looked into the project, I was really excited. I love DC, and The Penguin was one of my favorite shows of last year, so being a small part of that world felt quite surreal. I love how dark DC is. They strike a great balance with that heightened world whilst still keeping it grounded.
How familiar were you with Clayface and the wider Batman mythology before joining the film, and what surprised you most as you entered that world?
Ruby Sear: I’m a huge fan of The Penguin series and, of course, love a bit of Batman. It was the biggest set I had worked on. When I went for my fitting at Warner Bros. Studios, I couldn’t believe the scale of the sets they were building. Seeing the amount of costumes in this huge warehouse really put into perspective the work and time that goes into these films. It’s amazing to see the dedication, thought, and craftsmanship that go into building these worlds. It was a privilege to be a small part of it; I felt very grateful.
You've spent time in the recording studio this year while developing your artistry beyond acting. What has begun to take shape there, and what are you discovering about the kind of artist you want to be?
Ruby Sear: I love expressing myself in different creative forms, mostly acting, painting, and music, and everything in between! I feel lucky to have the time and access to explore these things alongside my main work, acting. I taught myself to play the guitar when I was about 15 or 16, looking for a hobby whilst working as a model and having time on my days off. Music has always been a huge part of my life. I find it really therapeutic and energizing. It inspires me in every way, and I’m not sure what I’d do without it. As soon as I could play a few chords, I started writing songs, and I’ve been doing that for about 10 years now. This year, I decided to get into the studio and record some of them. I’m not sure what I plan to do with them yet, but I may release them at some point. I record analogue on a six-track tape machine with my producer, Benjamin Woods.
Right now, I’m busy filming, so that’s my main focus. I’m also finishing a series of paintings that I plan to exhibit in London towards the end of the year. I do get a bit overwhelmed, in the best way, by the amount of ideas and inspiration I have. I think the ADHD and dyslexia don’t help, [laughs]. I’m very grateful to have creative freedom and express myself in whatever art form I fancy in the moment.
