Sep 15,2026

Jodie Comer and Harry Melling Reveal the Nerve-Racking Reality Behind Their Musical Debut

Jodie Comer and Harry Melling have opened up about the unusual and challenging experience of making their new musical film “Stuffed,” admitting that performing songs on camera was both intimidating and rewarding.

The two British actors star opposite each other in the genre-blending musical romance, which premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is directed by Theo Rhys and combines romance, horror, comedy and musical elements in a story unlike anything the actors had previously attempted.

Jodie Comer Faced a New Challenge

For Comer, known internationally for her Emmy-winning performance in Killing Eve, the project represented a major new challenge because it was her first major movie musical.

The actress explained that she had wanted to make a musical for a long time, but actually singing in front of people proved very different from imagining the experience.

She described the unfamiliar environment as frightening but also exciting, saying that stepping outside her comfort zone ultimately made the experience invigorating.

The pressure was increased by the fact that the actors were required to sing during filming rather than simply relying on conventional post-production techniques.

Melling Shared the Same Fear

Harry Melling, best known for roles including Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films, said he experienced many of the same nerves.

Rather than facing the challenge separately, Melling and Comer were able to support each other because they were both experiencing the unfamiliar process at the same time.

That shared experience helped create a special connection between the two performers and also contributed to the relationship between their characters in the movie.

What Is “Stuffed” About?

The film follows Araminta, played by Comer, a mortician and taxidermist, and Bernie, played by Melling, a lonely factory worker.

Their lives become connected through an unusual relationship involving taxidermy, eventually developing into an unexpected romance.

The unusual premise was one of the things that immediately attracted Melling to the project. He said the combination of a musical and taxidermy was so distinctive that it immediately grabbed his attention.

Two Months of Preparation

Making the musical required significant preparation from both actors.

Comer and Melling spent around two months preparing, including singing lessons and a workshop with director Theo Rhys and co-writer Joss Holden-Rea.

The performers also worked with pre-recorded music while preparing for scenes in which they would sing live.

Comer explained that live singing created another layer of difficulty because actors have to remain emotionally present while simultaneously managing technical elements such as an earpiece and the musical performance itself.

Comer Even Studied Taxidermy

The unusual nature of the film extended beyond its musical requirements.

To better understand Araminta, Comer took a short taxidermy course in Portsmouth. She said the experience helped her understand the character's relationship with her work and the world surrounding her.

The production also incorporated real taxidermy elements, contributing to the distinctive visual atmosphere of the film.

A Different Kind of Movie Musical

“Stuffed” is not a traditional Hollywood musical. Its combination of gothic romance, body horror, comedy and original songs gives the movie a distinctive identity.

Reviews from the Toronto festival have highlighted the unusual concept and the performances of its two leads, while noting that the movie deliberately mixes very different genres.

The project is also an important milestone for director Theo Rhys, marking his feature-film debut after the original short version of Stuffed received attention on the festival circuit.

Why the Film Has Created Buzz

The combination of Comer and Melling has generated interest because both actors are taking on material that pushes them outside familiar territory.

For Comer, the musical performance adds a completely new dimension to her screen work. For Melling, the project offers another opportunity to explore an unconventional character after a series of distinctive film roles.

Their willingness to embrace the unusual concept appears to be one of the film's biggest talking points.

A Risky but Memorable Debut

Making a musical can be challenging for experienced performers, but doing it while simultaneously working within a strange taxidermy-based story made Stuffed an especially demanding project.

Comer and Melling's comments suggest that the fear they experienced was ultimately part of what made the production meaningful.

Rather than allowing the unfamiliar format to hold them back, the actors used the challenge to learn from each other and discover a different side of their performances.

As Stuffed continues to attract attention following its Toronto premiere, audiences will now get the chance to decide whether this unusual combination of music, romance and horror delivers something genuinely different from the usual movie musical.