Rebellion, Art, and the Women Who Change the Narrative
In a world where history is often sanitised and rewritten, Umi Myers embodies a different kind of storytelling, one that is raw, defiant, and deeply intertwined with the lives of those history often forgets. Her latest role as Billy in Dope Girls, the highly anticipated BBC series, is a testament to this. Already described as the “new Peaky Blinders,” the show distinguishes itself by focusing on the women who navigated and shaped the underworld, offering a distinctly female perspective on rebellion, survival, and self-determination.
Words by Carolina Anzalone
Photographed by Ryan Rivers. Styled by Holly Bartley. Makeup by Caroline Barnes. Hair by Tarik Bennafla at Stella Creative Artists using Redken. Stylist assisted by Poppy Norris. Umi Myers appears courtesy of Public Eye Communications.
Coat by Kent & Curwen. Skirt by Hairy Mary. Jumper by Sunspel. Socks by London Sock Company. Shoes by Sandro.
Set in 1918 Soho, Dope Girls brings to life a world of illicit nightclubs, gang control, and underground drug culture. But rather than merely romanticising this era, it interrogates it, forcing us to confront the realities of a society where women were often overlooked yet instrumental in shaping history. Myers steps into the shoes of Billy, a dancer and artist at the heart of this world. She is a woman pushing against the rigid structures that seek to define her, carving out her own space in a society that constantly underestimates her. “Billy is fighting to create something that’s hers,” Myers explains. “She doesn’t want to be a novelty or an exotic dancer. She wants to be free.”
This desire for ownership of self, art, and expression is what makes Billy such a compelling figure. She is not just a performer but a creator, someone who dares to exist on her own terms, despite the dangers that come with such defiance. Through movement, she claims autonomy, a trait that aligns with rebellious female artists throughout history. “We looked at performance artists like Marina Abramovic, as well as Sinead O’Connor, FKA Twigs, Madonna, Nina Simone,” Myers says. “People who were punky, rebellious, who challenged expectations.”
For Myers, this role is more than just another character. It is an extension of the themes she has explored throughout her career. Coming from a strong theatre background, she has spent years perfecting the physicality of her performances, ensuring her characters feel visceral and electric. Her experience on stage has allowed her to master the subtleties of movement, something that became crucial when developing Billy’s persona.
Working closely with the choreographer, Umi Myers delved into Billy’s physicality in a way that felt true to both the character and her own heritage. Drawing from her British-Caribbean background, she explored movement styles that fused elements of dance, rhythm, and resistance. “There’s something about dance that is inherently rebellious,” she says. “For women, especially in restrictive societies, movement has always been a way of expressing freedom.” This depth of research and physical expression ensures that Billy’s defiance isn’t just spoken but embodied. Every gesture, every performance on stage within the show, is a form of resistance.
But Dope Girls is more than a period drama. It is a mirror held up to our present. The battles fought by women in the early 20th century—fighting for visibility, respect, and the right to exist outside the role society prescribes—are still being fought today. “It feels like we’re still having the same conversations,” Myers reflects. “There’s this discourse now that women are only hired to meet diversity quotas rather than because of their achievements. But women have always been at the forefront of change. They were running things while the men were at war, and when the men came back, they didn’t just disappear into the background.”
This idea of women shaping their own destinies, even in the shadows of history, is central to the show. While the comparisons to Peaky Blinders are inevitable, Dope Girls tells a different story. It is not about men exerting power but about women reclaiming it. It does not just depict crime and gang culture but explores the nuances of womanhood in a world that constantly seeks to control it.
Billy, like the women she represents, is a pioneer. She is messy, ambitious, and unapologetic. She is not simply surviving in a male-dominated world but actively shaping it. Her story speaks to every woman who has ever been told she should take up less space, be less loud, be less.
Through Myers’ performance, Billy becomes a vessel for the defiant, untold stories of women in history. Women who have shaped culture, broken barriers, and dared to exist on their own terms. With Dope Girls, Umi Myers does more than bring a character to life—she brings forgotten histories into the present, ensuring these stories are finally seen and heard.
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