Vogue-You may know Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones, but for her latest television project, the actor shed Arya Stark’s warrior cloaks in favor of a punk-rock wardrobe. Williams is starring in FX’s six-episode limited series Pistol, premiering today, which explores the rise and crash of Sex Pistols—the English band who ignited a counterculture movement in 1970s London. (The show, directed by Danny Boyle, is based on the memoir “Lonely Boy” from real-life Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones.) “I was aware of the Sex Pistols and the punk movement’s impact at the time, but I didn’t realize how the fashion, music, and art all further triggered the movement,” says Williams. “It was just a real scene in London, and it was like a small group of people that created that revolution.”

The actor plays Jordan, née Pamela Rooke, a real-life punk pioneer from the 1970s who often styled the Sex Pistols for performances and served as muse to the designer Vivienne Westwood, another fixture of the decade. Williams was immediately drawn to Jordan’s own powerful sense of style. “What I love so much about Jordan was the way that she used clothing as a political statement,” says Williams. Rooke rebuked the groovier clothes of the decade in favor of pieces with an edge. Think: leather jackets and ripped tees, always paired with kohl-rimmed eyes and hair gelled sky-high. Williams resonated with hat boldness. “Throughout my entire life, I’ve felt that the way that I look is different to the way that I am,” says Williams. “People think I’m smaller personality-wise based on my exterior—but with Jordan, she had such a grand exterior, and with such nuance behind that.”

One of the best parts of Williams’s new role was, naturally, slipping into the character’s latex-heavy wears. “It took many hands to get the wardrobe correct,” says Williams of her character’s look. “It was really exciting to me—every day was like dress-up, getting locked into these rubber outfits and materials that I’ve never worn before. It felt like I was becoming someone new.” Some of her favorite looks on the show included an all-yellow PVC look—with “rubber knickers and latex stockings”—as well as a skirt and top that reminded her of a memorable story Jordan once told her. “Jordan told this incredible story of one summer in London, where they were having the most outrageous heatwave,” says Williams. “She was wearing this rubber top and skirt, and it was so hot that the skirt basically just disintegrated and melted off of her body.” (Jordan served as a consultant on the series before her death in April.)

One of the ensembles that channeled this energy was the fiery-red cutout suit by Dilara Findikoglu that Williams wore for one of her press appearances. “It has a very chic and traditional silhouette that’s coupled with these cutouts,” says Williams. “I felt hugely powerful wearing it.” For interviews, she wore a Y/PROJECT look including a top with printed breasts overtop it—an instant double take. “Getting on a video call with a journalist, I could immediately tell they had no idea where to look,” Williams says, laughing. “It felt like they were seeing something they shouldn’t have. That look was wholly inspired by Jordan.”

For the show’s premiere, Williams also wore a vintage, floor-length Junya Watanabe gown from the fall 2002 collection. Recycling an archival look was an homage to punk in and of itself. Designers like Westwood and more would often give old garments or textiles a new life. “So many of Vivienne’s original designs were cut from that last piece of cloth, or created from excess fabrics,” says Williams. For the after-party, Williams changed into a black No. 21 dress covered entirely in large black paillettes. “The way the sequins fall is so effortless,” says Williams. “In theory, it was like wearing a string top, but because of the way the sequins fall, you get the illusion that it’s a completely covered bodice. I had to be mindful of nipple slips—but it was also very on theme!”

Now that the show is premiering today, Williams is excited to hear what viewers will think of her latest on-screen transformation. “I think it’s going to capture a completely new audience that doesn’t know about the Pistols,” she says. “I’m also excited to see how it’s going to influence the fashion and beauty community, and the content creators.” There will be no R&R for her, either: Williams is already onto the next project, and it’s equally as fashion-focused. ‘“I’m in Paris shooting a TV show about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel,” she teases. We’re already hooked—and ready for her next transformation.

Pistol, Maisie Williams, Sydney Chandler and Talulah Riley, head to PopCulture.com for the latest in entertainment news, celebrity gossip and lots more.

 

British actors Williams and Riley spoke to Newsweek and talked about how pivotal the makeup chair was to their character transformations.

 

We spoke with Sydney Chandler, Talulah Riley and Maisie Williams about their roles in director/producer Danny Boyle’s FX/Hulu limited series, PISTOL, about the legendary punk band, the Sex Pistols. Chandler portrays future Pretenders lead vocalist and guitarist Chrissie Hynde, with Riley playing fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and Williams portraying model Pamela “Jordan” Rooke PISTOL premieres on FX & Hulu on Tuesday, May 31.

 

It was in 2012 when Danny Boyle first captured the mood of the nation with his beautifully uplifting Olympics Opening Ceremony. Fast forward 10 years and he’s done it again, but this time the mood is of the UK right now is ferocious anger.

Pistol is Boyle’s first foray into TV. It’s a six-episode limited series about the founding of the Sex Pistols and their short-lived but historic time as a band.

Based on Sex Pistols’ founding member and guitarist, Steve Jones’ memoir Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol, the show is a cut-and-paste masterclass, mixing archive footage with actors portraying the roles of the Sex Pistols and the contingent that surrounded them.

In the show, The Queen’s Gambit’s Thomas Brodie-Sangster stars as manager and fashion boutique owner Malcolm McLaren.

Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams stars as punk icon Jordan AKA Pamela Rooke, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

They both sat down with ShortList to discuss the new show and what is was like retelling one of the most raucous times in the history of music.

ShortList: What was it about the Pistol series that made you want to star in it?

Maisie Williams: Initially I was very excited at the prospect of working with Danny Boyle. And then, I learned a lot more about the Pistols and their story which is about the ferocious working class, a story of what working class boys who want to make something of their life do and I think that’s typically the genre that I find myself being quite drawn to.

I knew working on the show would be a dream but then learning more about the women who were so integral to the telling of the story which I didn’t have a huge understanding of prior to this. It was clear that they wanted this time to be told more accurately. And so as a woman coming into a story like this, you never know if your role is going to be really meaningful. But it was. It’s really special because that is the way that history was, but we have a tendency to write it a little bit more skewed.

ShortList: Malcolm McLaren is one of the most recognisable people from the punk period – what was it like playing someone who is so well known, with a voice and look that is iconic?

Thomas Brodie-Sangster: It was really fun and a great challenge, but something I accepted gladly. it was also something where I felt like I wouldn’t normally get this job. I don’t know. It just seems a bit… but it didn’t feel like it was out of my comfort zone at all. I immediately just wanted to find out who this Malcolm McLaren character really was and felt that I connected with him instantly.

He’s got so much nuance to his voice. To the way he holds himself. He’s got power and presence but he’s also such a visionary. He lives in the in this ideal constantly. He’s thinking of the future. He’s a builder, creator.

ShortList: There’s a lovely tribute to Pamela Rooke at the end of the second episode – what was it like having her around consulting on the show. Did it change how you prepared for the role?
Maisie Williams: Absolutely. I mean, we were so lucky to have her and to have her retelling all of these stories that we’ve read a lot about but to have someone who was there from the very beginning.

Her role in the story was just separated enough that she’s managed to observe absolutely every one of these characters and people and formulated an idea and an understanding without it being linked to such pain.

In lots of ways it’s very intimidating to spend time with her. But it shortly became the greatest asset that I could possibly ask for. There was pressure when you’re playing someone real and pressure to do them justice. But, for me, I felt like there was really only one person who I wanted to enjoy my moments and be happy with my performance and that was Jordan.

Although she didn’t get to watch the finished show, I know that she was very happy on the days when she came visit us on set.

ShortList: Danny Boyle seems to have brought a punk ethos to the series – did it feel like that on set?

Thomas Brodie-Sangster: I think that this show really shines because of our incredible supporting artists. The way that they brought all of our scenes to life.

The way that Danny [Boyle] gave so much context and information to the supporting artists, and then they in return gave just some of the most incredible performances. Pogoing, gobbing, dancing, screaming… yet they have the smiles on their faces once you said cut and they were ready to go again and do it again. They just brought so much energy.

Original series Pistol will be available on Disney+ from 31st May.

Maisie Williams used her time in the makeup chair to physically and mentally transform herself in the new FX show Pistol.

The Game of Thrones actress has a starring role in the new biographical drama about the Sex Pistols. Created by Craig Pearce and directed by Danny Boyle, all six episodes are available to watch on Hulu now.

Williams portrays the English model Pamela Rooke, aka Jordan, who is known for her work with Vivienne Westwood (played by Talulah Riley). Pistol documents how Jordan, Westwood and members of the Sex Pistols were instrumental in the rise of the punk movement in 1970s Britain.

Newsweek spoke to Williams and Riley who shared what it was like getting into, and out of, character each day.

Jordan’s appearance in Pistol is true to her look in real life. She sports provocative clothing, artistic makeup on her face, and often towering hairstyles. As a result, Williams spent many, many hours in the makeup chair each morning before shooting.

“I can use that time as like a meditative period to mentally transform as well as go through the physical transformation,” Williams told Newsweek. “But also, I think we got on so well with all of the team and the research that everyone had done was just so extensive. So it was ultimately just nice to chat about all the things that we’ve learned about like the people that we’re creating in the mornings or the scenes that we’re doing.”

The Sex Pistols were formed in London in 1975, they made it big in 1977 with their single “God Save the Queen,” and then broke up after a disastrous American tour in 1978.

“I feel like there was a lot of, like 50-year anniversaries of like specific dates, of like gigs or whatever. So it was like kind of nice sometimes like different days had like different energy like that,” Williams said.

Riley, who plays legendary designer Vivienne Westwood, added that the makeup chair was the place to be for the cast at the end of the day too.

“Our makeup artist was fantastic, wasn’t she?” Riley told Newsweek and Williams. “Her trucks, like the best truck to hang out and she had beers with the boys at the end of the day. Yeah, it was quite fun getting your makeup taken off as well as getting it.”

Both Williams and Riley both got to meet their onscreen counterparts in person before appearing in Pistol.

Jordan died of cancer in April 2022 at the age of 66, but before that she managed to visit Williams on set during rehearsals. “It’s really great to be able to sort of drink in the aura of someone and the way that everyone in the room reacts to them and what it is that they do versus the way that other people project onto them,” Williams reflected on her experience with the innovator.

 

“A lot of her outfits were kind of inspired by the dance attire that she’d worn when she was younger, so I was just really intrigued to know about her childhood, her relationships.

“I was just sort of like, ‘where did you come from? Where did all of these influences come from?’ It was really just interesting to chat with her about that,” Williams added. “Then also just to see the way that she could command a room very effortlessly, and I had to try and do the same.”

Riley had a similar experience prior to shooting, as she traveled to Vivienne Westwood’s business headquarters to meet with the builder of the fashion empire.

“She was lovely,” Riley confirmed. “It was great just to get a feel for her and how she sounds and the physicality. Obviously, what we’re doing is fiction. It’s not really, really our characters but it was it’s nice to just get a tone in there.”

The SEX Boutique plays a large part in Pistol, as it’s where we meet the character of Westwood and her partner Malcolm McLaren (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) for the first time. In real life, the shop found at 430 King’s Road, London played an integral part in providing the clothing for the Sex Pistols and the garbs that defined the look of the punk movement.

Riley compared the surroundings of the SEX Boutique on set to the sites she saw at Vivienne Westwood’s HQ. “It was fantastic to see all her designs out on the walls and the materials. And it was quite evocative of what we were doing on set, because obviously now, one might say, she has more name recognition than the Sex Pistols,” she said.

All six episodes of the limited series Pistol are available to watch on Hulu now.