Star City — Agnes O’Casey discusses multiple undercover missions in a single year and her dream of playing the world’s most famous spy

According to the CinemaDrame news agency, rising star Agnes O’Casey believes that spies are making a comeback in the world of entertainment—a view that doesn’t seem far-fetched given the number of undercover roles she has taken on this year. She even has ideas about the most iconic spy in cinema history.

In an interview, she said: “Recently I was playing ‘Would You Rather?’ with friends, and the question was James Bond or Indiana Jones? After that, I kept thinking about how much I would love to play James Bond.” She added that she would like to see a female version of Bond—one who, like the original, can change identities, with companions that include both men and women. She said the idea excites her, and she would even love to drive an Aston Martin.

O’Casey has already become closely associated with spy roles. Her credits include Liz Gold in the stage adaptation of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, a role she will reprise in the television adaptation Legacy of Spies. She also appears in Netflix’s Black Doves and in Apple TV+’s Star City.

She is currently attending the Canneseries festival to promote Star City, a spin-off of For All Mankind that explores the Soviet Union and the space race. In the series, she plays Irina Morozova, a newcomer in the surveillance division who is being trained under her supervisor, played by Anna Maxwell Martin. The older version of the character was previously portrayed by Svetlana Efremova in the original series.

O’Casey said that when she first received the character description, she immediately felt it suited her. According to her, Irina initially appears to be a villain, but gradually reveals more complex layers. She described the character as someone who starts off like a “fish out of water” but actually enjoys the situation, which gave her more room for performance.

To prepare for the role, she conducted extensive research, reading books such as Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich and A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre—works she says became reference points for the cast.

For All Mankind has now become one of Apple TV+’s longest-running productions, and O’Casey says she has been surprised by the diversity of its fanbase.

She is also preparing to begin filming Legacy of Spies, which will feature actors including Matthew Macfadyen, Daniel Brühl, and Dan Stevens.

In closing, she spoke about the appeal of undercover roles: “There’s something fascinating about having a double life. I was a disciplined kid at school, but inside I always felt different. I think we all have a double life to some extent.”

Star City had its world premiere at the Canneseries festival.