In the past few years, Kirby Howell-Baptiste has become a star that everyone wants to see. This British actress has been in shows like HBO’s Barry and the Veronica Mars reboot. In just a few short years, she has gone from being a supporting actor to being a main character in major movies and TV shows. She will be in the AppleTV+ show Sugar with Colin Ferrell and the crime thriller Culprits.
Kirby Howell-Baptiste may not be a well-known name, but when she’s in a movie, people know who she is (or hear her delightful voice). When you look at her career, you can see how versatile she is as an actress because she has done everything from dark comic book fantasy dramas to sweet animated shows. So, here are Kirby Howell-best Baptiste’s performances in order.
Cruella
In the Disney movie Cruella, which comes out in 2021, Howell-Baptiste plays the part of Anita Darling. In the movie, Estella’s old classmate Anita Darling is now an adult who writes a gossip column. Anita Darling helps tell the story of Cruella de Vil through the press. Even though the piece is small,
People remember Baptiste. For those who may have forgotten the details of Disney’s “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” the film’s last scene, in which Anita is given a Dalmatian puppy named Perdita, who becomes one of the main Dalmatians in the classic movie, is a delight.
Infinity Train
In the popular TV show Infinity Train, Howell-Baptiste is the voice of Grace Monroe. She starts out as a bad guy in season two, but by season three, she is one of the main characters. Howell-Baptise has a very dynamic voice that sells the story of her character’s change for the better.
Sadly, Infinity Train was one of the many shows that were taken off of HBO Max after Warner Bros. Discovery, but you can still buy it on other digital platforms like Prime Video if you still want to watch it.
Killing Eve
Howell-Baptiste was in the first season of Killing Eve, which was a big hit. In the popular show, she played Elena Felton, who worked for Eve, who was played by Sandra Oh. The actress was a regular on the show for the first season before leaving. The show said she quit because she was afraid for her life.
In the fourth and last season, she played the same part. Even though it may not be the most important part of her career, being a part of one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows is a big deal, and the actress has gone on to have a great career.
The Good Place
It can be hard to add a new character to a popular series. Sometimes it works and gives a series a new lease on life, like it did with J.B. Smoove as Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm, or it can smell like desperation and sink a show like Cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch. By the third season, the main six cast members of The Good Place had found a good rhythm, so adding a new person was a risk. Simone Garnett, the character played by Howell-Baptiste, was a great addition to the group.
She was first introduced in season three as Chidi’s girlfriend on Earth. Later, she became a test subject in the Good Place. Simone Garnett is a great character because she adds a new twist to the story. In the Good Place, she thinks she is having a brain-death hallucination, which shows what happens when a scientist meets the afterlife. The character is funny and well-rounded, which gives Chidi and Elenor something new to think about.
The Sandman
Howell-Baptiste plays Death in The Sandman on Netflix, which is based on the popular comic book of the same name. Death was one of the most interesting characters in the original graphic novel, so people were excited to see her in real life for the first time. Howell-Baptiste only appears in one episode of the first season, but it is not only the best episode of the whole series, but also her best performance.
Death meets her brother Dream in the episode “The Sound of Her Wings,” which is about a day in Death’s life as she collects the souls of different people. Most popular culture has a very different idea of what Death looks like than this. This is not a vengeful ghost like the one in the movie Final Destination, nor is it a scary hooded figure with a scythe. Death is a warm, friendly presence that welcomes everyone with a smile and a kind heart.
Neil Gaiman said he wanted this version of Death to be the one he meets at the end, and Howell-Baptiste does a great job of capturing that loving spirit that makes the end easier. Death is not bad; it is a natural part of life, and everyone will die. Even though it’s only one episode, the performance stands out and makes people want to see more of this version of Death.
Why Women Kill
The first season of Why Women Kill has Howell-Baptiste in it. The show is an anthology, and the first season is about the same house in three different times. In the set time of 2019, Howell-Baptiste plays Taylor Harding. Her character is a bisexual lawyer who has a polyamorous relationship with her husband, played by Reid Scott, who is a screenwriter.
When Taylor brings her lover Jade (Alexandra Daddario) into their lives, it changes things for them. Baptiste really gets to shine in this role, which shows how hard it is to love and be there for someone when they are going through hard times. Howell-Baptiste holds her own with Lucy Liu and Ginnifer Goodwin in a show where everyone does a great job.
