Johnson-Thompson 'super proud' of Comer after show

Jenny ColemanNorth West
News imagePA Media Jodie Comer and Katarina Johnson-Thompson pictured together at an awards ceremony where they are both wearing black dresses and smiling at the cameraPA Media
Jodie Comer and Katarina Johnson-Thompson were classmates at St Julie's Catholic High School in Liverpool

World champion athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson has said she is "super proud" of her best friend Jodie Comer after her recent sell-out performance of Prima Facie.

The Liverpool-born actress and star of Killing Eve played Tessa in the one-woman show which finished its UK and Ireland tour with a sellout run at the city's Playhouse theatre.

"The show was incredible, and I'm so happy that she brought Tess back to Liverpool and to the playhouse, and it was a very special evening," the two-times world champion said.

"Jodie's super, super talented, and just to see her do that and stand on that stage, to anybody who's seen it, they get it, you were just speechless afterwards."

Prima Facie, written by Suzie Miller, tells the story a barrister who specialises in defending people accused of sexual assault.

News imageReuters Jodie Comer pictured smiling and holding a Tony award in front of a poster for Prima Facie. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a black dress and hooped diamond earrings.Reuters
Comer won a Tony award for her Broadway performance of Prima Facie

"I was one of the lucky ones to go and see it." Katarina told BBC Radio Merseyside's Kev Duala.

"I'm super proud."

The play opened at the Richmond Theatre in London in January and ended its run in March.

Comer and Johnson-Thompson became friends when they were classmates at St Julie's Catholic High School in Liverpool.

Reflecting on both of their successes Johnson-Thompson, who is a double world champion, double Commonwealth Games champion and an Olympic and European silver medallist, said she was "really proud" to be considered a role model for young people.

News imageFRANCK ROBICHON/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Katarina Johnson-Thompson celebrating while holding a Union Flag at the Paris 2024 Olympic GamesFRANCK ROBICHON/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Katarina Johnson-Thompson won silver in the Heptathlon at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024

"I'm really happy that I can set that example for those young girls in Liverpool," she said.

"If you want to do something... it's very important not to lose that focus, that drive, that ambition.

"Work on your craft, have trust in yourself and trust in your team around you and also you've got more time than you think.

"Athletics has given me my whole life, and I'm super grateful that I'm still doing it at 33."

Johnson-Thompson said she now had her eyes set on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July and the European championships in Birmingham in August.

"It's going to be a very special year for British Athletics and hopefully my season this year," she said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.