Burns and Beecham developed the character of Daphne over several years, together with the screenwriter Nico Mensinga.
Burns then wrote a detailed description of Daphne, including what she reads (Slavoj Žižek) and what music she listens to.
Any film fan who spots Emily Beecham out and about this autumn might well be wary.
Beecham’s convincing performance as a sharp-tongued, wayward and unhappy young woman living alone in London is, however, earning her high praise from critics.