An Ordinary Girl in an Extraordinary World: An Interview with Máiréad Tyers

Extraordinary is the highly anticipated drama series on ITVX that takes viewers into a world where everyone over 18 years old develops a superpower, everyone except for the 25-year-old protagonist, Jen. Played by the talented Máiréad Tyers, Jen finds herself feeling left behind and stuck in a dead-end job as she waits for her power to appear. With its unique premise and relatable characters, Extraordinary promises to be a fun and thought-provoking series.

When asked about her role as Jen, Tyers replied, “Jen is a 25-year-old girl who’s living in London with her two friends Kash [Bilal Hasna] and Carrie [Sofia Oxenham]. She doesn’t really have a job or at least she doesn’t have a career lined up ahead of her. She’s living in a world where everyone has powers, but she’s one of the only people in the world who doesn’t have one.” Tyers captures the essence of Jen as a character who navigates the challenges of being an outlier in a world where superpowers are the norm.

Describing Jen’s personality, Tyers notes, “She’s someone who I think chooses to live in denial about a lot of things. Which I can relate to. She’s kind of self-destructive a lot of the time, but also very humorous. Like, she likes having fun.” Tyers’ portrayal brings forth the complex nature of Jen, showcasing her self-deprecating humor and her ability to bring lightness to any situation.

One of the main challenges faced by Jen is not having a power in a world where everyone else does. Tyers explains, “It is massive, especially in this world where people can get jobs out of their powers.” As viewers are taken through the series, they witness the impact of this absence of power on Jen. Tyers adds, “She does enjoy — sometimes — the sadness of that and doesn’t really do much about it. But that’s what the series is — it’s her deciding to take a stance and go, ‘Right, I’m going to get my power now. It’s time.’”

The world of Extraordinary is set in a backdrop where people receive their powers by the age of 18. Tyers explains, “Kash and Carrie take it upon themselves to help her out and be like, ‘Right, let’s Google and find out what we can do.’ They go through a series of different trials like trying to shock her into getting a power.” As the series unfolds, viewers join Jen on her quest to discover her power and the challenges she faces along the way.

Beyond the superpowers, the world of Extraordinary is strikingly ordinary. Tyers notes, “It’s a very believable world: once you accept the fact that there are powers here, it couldn’t be more the same.” The series cleverly integrates these extraordinary abilities into everyday life, creating a world that feels familiar yet with an added layer of curiosity and intrigue.

When asked about her own power of choice, Tyers shares, “Mine would be teleportation, just so that I could be on time to things because I never am.”

However, Extraordinary goes beyond comedy and entertainment, as Tyers points out. “I think Emma’s [Moran – series creator] done a really great job of describing the feeling of being in your mid 20s and having left institutions that you’ve been in for your whole life, be it school or uni,” she explains.

With its relatable characters and unique premise, Extraordinary is set to captivate audiences and spark conversations about identity, purpose, and the complexities of growing up. Prepare to be taken on a journey alongside Jen as she searches for her place in an extraordinary world.

Extraordinary premieres soon on ITVX. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary series.