Performer of the Week: Rose Matafeo
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THE PERFORMER | Rose Matafeo
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THE SHOW | Starstruck
THE EPISODE | “Episode 4” (Sept. 28, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCE | Max’s refreshingly unpredictable rom-com has always been a showcase for its creator/star Matafeo as her character, sardonic New Zealander-in-London Jessie, comes to accept the unthinkable: She’s fallen in love with famous actor Tom Kapoor. But in Season 3’s fourth half-hour — set two years after their breakup when Jessie’s new beau, Liam, joins her mates for a cabin getaway — Matafeo bares her full range.
She’s long mastered Jessie’s deadpan glares and physical outbursts, like when a plea for single Shivani to swap rooms escalates to her throwing Shivani’s clothes across the hall or when her attempt to rage-chop wood yields only a stack of expletives. Now, with Jessie in her early 30s, Matafeo lets her begin to confront conflict joke-free and with greater subtly.
During a bedtime conversation with her pregnant best friend, Kate asks if Jessie will still tell her all her secrets after the baby is born. Jessie reaches for Kate’s hand, wanting to remain close, but has to look slightly away when she answers “Of course” because she knows she’s already hiding some.
The next night, when Kate learns just how messy Jessie and engaged Tom’s recent reconnection has become and wonders why Jessie hadn’t told her about a second kiss, Matafeo makes us feel Jessie’s struggle to start a fight with the person she cherishes most: “I knew…I knew you would judge me,” she says.
“Well, maybe, if you made one good decision in your life I wouldn’t have to judge you,” Kate snaps.
Now Matafeo fully commits, clenching her jaw and steeling her eyes: “How am I supposed to make any good decisions under that kind of pressure?…I don’t have to tell you everything.”
Jessie storms outside to shout a voicemail for Tom, but as she turns around to find calm Liam approaching, everything about Matafeo softens. When Liam says he’s going to leave then adds, “Actually…”, there’s hope and fear in her eyes. He asks if it’s okay if they break up, and the way Matafeo holds back tears, smiles slightly, tilts her head, and shrugs before answering… it’s clear that Jessie understands what a man she’s losing — and that we, as fans, have her permission to be Team Liam.
As Jessie starts to cry, and Liam hugs her, you start to wonder if she could ever let herself be this vulnerable with Tom when part of their relationship was her proving to herself she was strong enough to be in it. Jessie calls herself “a f–ing idiot,” but we’ve never seen Matafeo be so brilliant.
Scroll down to see who scored Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…
HONORABLE MENTION: Rose Byrne
Let’s just get this out of the way up front: Rose Byrne has not gotten her due. For, like, anything. (Don’t even get me started on the Oscar nominations she was robbed of for her wickedly subtle comedic turns in Bridesmaids and Spy.) It should therefore come as no surprise that the Australian actress’ work in Apple TV+’s just concluded Physical went largely ignored throughout its three-season run. Even as the ‘80s fitness satire veered off course in its regrettably uneven final season — the less said about the nails-on-a-chalkboard narrative device involving Zooey Deschanel Kelly Kilmartin the better — Byrne never delivered a false note. That was especially true in this week’s series finale, particularly the closing sequence which found Sheila finally making things right with Bunny, whose aerobics empire she essentially stole. “I just want to give you credit… for being the first,” Sheila muttered, Byrne’s eyes welling up and voice cracking in heart-tugging unison. Actually, we’re the ones who should be doling out the credit to Byrne, whose stunningly nuanced delivery of those 11 pivotal words guided Physical satisfyingly across the finish line.
HONORABLE MENTION: Ncuti Gatwa
Otis and Maeve’s relationship drama certainly piqued our interest in Sex Education‘s series finale, but it was Ncuti Gatwa who ultimately stole our hearts. When Eric’s mother and pastor wanted him to get baptized, he struggled between following his faith and living his truth — that he was a proud gay man. When he stood up in front of his parish seeking acceptance, Gatwa’s lip quivered and his voice shook. As his eyes filled with tears, we wanted to reach through the screen and hug him. But that wasn’t his only shining moment. The actor exhibited tenderness while trying to help Cal through an identity crisis, and later after Otis apologized, his face lit up with joy and laughter, thus ending one wildly emotional rollercoaster ride.
HONORABLE MENTION: Alex R. Hibbert
We can’t blame The Chi’s Kevin for tearing up as he reminisced about his past in Sunday’s midseason finale: Those throwback clips to the Showtime series’ early seasons were a clear reminder of how much Alex R. Hibbert has grown up since he first started playing the South Side teen. Hibbert was great throughout the episode, which heralded Kevin’s imminent departure to the West Coast, but we were especially taken with the way he handled his character’s goodbye to his family and friends. Hibbert started Kev’s speech off lightheartedly, but moments later, the emotion started creeping into his voice. Pretty soon, he had tears coursing down his face as he had Kevin struggle to make sure his friends knew exactly how much they, and the city, had shaped him. Ironically, the most touching part of Hibbert’s performance was the one that was silent: the simple yet very moving way he allowed Kevin to crumble into an sobbing mess while his mother pulled him from the crowd and hugged him in the kitchen.
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!
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