Seeing the new season of HBO’s deliciously unhinged series Industry, it’s clear the show has officially entered its feral era. The suits are still sharp, the attitudes are still rancid, but the chaos now stretches far beyond Pierpoint, dragging politics, power play, and personal ruin into the ring. And to our delight, MIRIAM PETCHE’s beloved character, Sweetpea, finally enters full mission mode, with an arc that is equal parts ambition spiral and emotional gut punch. Here, Petche talks about the series’ darker political turn, shooting career-defining scenes for THAT episode, and why The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is her ultimate switch-off.

Left Full look **McQueen**
Right Bodysuit **MM6**, coat **Carven**, shoes **Jimmy Choo**

I’ve just had a few very intense days immersed in the new season. Season three already felt dark and chaotic, but now, the show is even more insane. When you first read the scripts, what themes really stood out to you this time around?

I think with Industry, larger political themes were always there – they just feel more prominent now because Pierpoint is no longer the focus. The show has never treated finance as something that exists in a vacuum. Politics and money are always in conversation with each other, and now those forces feel more visible. You can really see how they affect people emotionally and morally. Mickey [Down] and Konrad [Kay] are incredibly attentive to what’s happening in the world, and that inevitably feeds into how they write. They really have their finger on the pulse.

This season doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable parallels – Yasmin [played by Marisa Abela] being read as a kind of modern Ghislaine Maxwell, for instance. It’s difficult to watch, but it’s important. Where does Sweetpea fit into that darker landscape, and what excited you about her trajectory this season ?

Coming into season three, I’d left drama school early to join the show, and honestly, Industry became a huge part of my training. This time around, I was especially excited for episode five with the Accra trip – I knew about that storyline a bit earlier, before we started shooting.
Watching actors around you lead episodes or entire seasons really teaches you how to hold yourself on set. So, when I was given the opportunity to lead that episode, I felt incredibly humbled. Sweetpea’s journey this season is very emotional, but it’s also the kind of challenge any young actor would feel lucky to take on.

Left Shirt and coat **Hermès**, jewellery **Cartier**
Right Blazer and pants **Emporio Armani**, shoes **Jimmy Choo**, jewellery, watch and belt **Cartier**

The assault scene in that episode is shocking. How did you prepare for that moment, both mentally and physically?

It was about constant communication. There are so many layers – there’s the physical choreography because it’s essentially a stunt and a fight, and everyone needs to feel safe. Then there’s the emotional weight, not just for Sweetpea, but for everyone in the room.
We took our time with that scene. It wasn’t rushed. I always felt I could speak up if I was uncomfortable – which I wasn’t – but knowing that was crucial. The priority was making sure everyone felt heard, and then asking: how do we tell this story honestly so it translates on screen?

Left Blazer, top, and pants **Fendi**, shoes **Jimmy Choo**, jewellery **Cartier**
Right Full look **McQueen**

The episode ends with Sweetpea completely unravelling after coming back to London. It feels like relief, pride, hurt and denial all at once. How did you understand that final breakdown?

Completely like that – it’s a mix of everything. She’s dealing with the leak of that video from her past, and losing her sense of agency forces her to confront what really matters to her. Sweetpea believes that being competent at work will fix everything. She thinks that if she proves herself, it will erase her shame. Her discovery about Tender is massive, and it’s almost unbelievable that she even pulls it off. But then she goes home and realises it hasn’t fixed how she feels about herself at all.
That moment before she breaks down, when Harper asks if she wants her to come upstairs – that’s crucial. I would say yes immediately. But Sweetpea can’t. She can’t let anyone see her as anything other than useful. When she finally breaks, it’s everything bubbling over: the trauma, the relief, the disappointment that success didn’t save her. Interestingly, we filmed that breakdown on the same day as the assault scene in the bathroom earlier in the episode, so emotionally, it was all very present.

Industry is such a stylish show – from the music to the clothes to the locations. What’s been your favourite place to shoot so far?

Honestly, I think we’ve filmed in every building in Cardiff. I love it there – my grandparents live there, so I’m always happy when we’re shooting. Sweetpea spent so much of season three inside Pierpoint, so this season it was really refreshing to have new locations. There was just a lot more to play with.

She finally went outside.

She finally left the building. [Laughs]

Shirt, shorts, blazer and coat **N°21**, shoes **Jimmy Choo**, jewellery **Cartier**

If there’s another season (and there better be!), what would you love to explore with Sweetpea?

I’m really interested in her family life. We’ve had little hints – her relationship with her mum, her parents – but it hasn’t been fully explored yet. Those early relationships shape who we become, and I’d love to dig into that.

We have to end on something equally important: The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Turns out we’re both big fans!

Completely obsessed. But I only started it recently, from the beginning, so I’m still on season four. I’m trying to avoid all online discourse because I want to experience it properly.