'Patience's Ella Maisy Purvis on Authenticity, Representation & Season 2

Patience, an adaptation of the popular French series Astrid, is the newest drama in PBS’ primetime Sunday night lineup. Patience Evans (Ella Maisy Purvis) is a brilliant young woman on the spectrum whose keen eye and unique perspective make her a valuable asset to DI Beatrice Metcalf (Laura Fraser). Patience splits her time between her predictable job in the criminal records department and the wildly variable world of detective police work, where she fosters confidence, broadens her horizons, and develops a friendship she didn’t expect.

Patience is brought to life by the effervescent and effortlessly charming Purvis, who is a delight both on and off screen. When we speak, she has just come off set from filming the already greenlit Season 2. (Yes, Virginia, there is a second season!) Still in costume, she looks every bit the part – but where Patience is restrained and quiet, Purvis is wonderfully loquacious and open. A relative newcomer, this is her first starring role, and it is undoubtedly a breakout performance.

Purvis points out that the show “does a fantastic job at representing Patience, and Patience’s life, and the way Patience experiences the world,” stressing the importance of individuality. “What I’ve tried to emphasize, talking to people, is: if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person. This is one perspective.”