Maya Jama says working with Guy Ritchie like being in ‘presence of greatness’

Love Island presenter Maya Jama has said working with English filmmaker Guy Ritchie was like being in the “presence of greatness”.

Jama, 31, will appear in the second series of The Gentlemen alongside The White Lotus actor Theo James, Skins star Kaya Scodelario and Sexy Beast’s Ray Winstone.

Inspired by Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name, the series follows Eddie Horniman (James) as he inherits the family estate before discovering that it is home to an illegal cannabis farm run by Susie Glass (Scodelario).

Speaking to Variety about the filmmaker, Jama said: “He’s really kind and nice. He doesn’t feel as intimidating as you’d think, being who he is. He’s very personable and he would be like, ‘Yeah, you’re doing well’, and reassure me, which was really nice.

“He’s just really involved and kind of a genius to watch, because everyone’s practising their lines and then he says something that’s way better than the original.

“You just feel like you’re in the presence of greatness.”

The new series will also see Lovesick actor Daniel Ings reprise his role as Eddie’s brother Freddy with Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville joining the second season of the Netflix show.

Set in the English countryside, Jama said the actors stayed on Ritchie’s estate for a bit while they were filming, adding that the first day on set was the most “overwhelming thing ever” because all the leads were all together in one room.

Jama added: “All of them were actually just really welcoming and supportive. We got on, had little drinks after work sometimes and it was really cool.

Ritchie is best known for directing films including Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and Wrath Of Man.

Little is known of Jama’s character in the new series, however, she said her pivot into acting has been something she has been wanting to pursue for a while.

She said: “I did a proper audition.

“It’s always been something in the back of my mind, but I’ve just been so busy with presenting that I’ve never had the chance to pursue it.

“I never want to do something and it be shit, so I was like, if I’m going to do it, I want to train with someone and get as good as I can.

“I did the tiniest little cameo in a Netflix series called The Duchess but it was like one day filming, whereas this was my first one where I had to properly learn lines and be on set for a few days. But I was so, so excited because I loved the series.”

Jama is also known for presenting the ITV reality dating spin-off series Love Island: All Stars and is also on the judging panel of ITV’s singing competition, The Masked Singer, which sees celebrities perform while wearing elaborate costumes.