Aimee-Ffion Edwards, known for her role as Shirley Dander in the popular series Slow Horses, described the experience of jumping off a nightclub balcony during filming as both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Despite being safely harnessed, she admitted to telling herself, "You're not jumping," to manage the fear. She jumped off the balcony "five or six times" during filming. Edwards credits her background in rugby, where she played for a boys' team, for her fearlessness. She says that her athletic past helped her push through the challenge. Born and raised in Wales, Edwards had a childhood dream of playing rugby for the national team. She played one match for Wales before shifting her focus to acting. She still lives in Newport and travels to London for her work. She appreciates being able to play a British spy with her authentic Welsh accent, and she’s glad that her Welsh identity isn’t a point of discussion in the show. "Nobody ever mentions it," she says, adding that it's important to normalize Welshness in media. Before Slow Horses, Edwards had to adopt different accents, such as a Brummie accent for Peaky Blinders and a southern one for Wolf Hall. However, she has increasingly embraced her Welsh identity, especially in her role as Shirley Dander and as Cis, the older sister of Richard Burton in the 2025 film Mr Burton. She is also set to voice Princess Leia in the first Welsh-language dub of Star Wars, which will air in Wales on Christmas Day. In Slow Horses season six, Shirley's grief over the death of her colleague Marcus, played by Kadiff Kirwan, adds emotional depth to her character. Edwards found it challenging to portray Shirley’s anger and sorrow, especially after the loss of her on-screen partner. She describes their relationship as "partners in crime," with a strong, platonic bond filled with mutual support and occasional conflict. Edwards enjoys playing complex characters, especially those who are strong and flawed. She finds it fascinating to explore contradictions in her roles, which helps her bring depth to characters like Shirley, a woman whose bravery is often overshadowed by her emotional struggles. She finds the role "liberating" and enjoys the challenge of portraying such a multifaceted character. Edwards also enjoys a variety of hobbies, including swimming and running, though she avoids team sports due to the demands of her acting career. In her spare time, she enjoys making furniture in her garage. If she were to leave acting, she would like to become a carpenter and own a dog. She prefers to keep her personal life private, which helps her maintain a sense of normalcy in her hometown of Newport. She feels lucky to live in a place where she can enjoy a quiet life away from the spotlight. She also finds it amusing that many people recognize her from the TV quiz show Pointless, even though they don’t know she’s an actress. "What a contradiction," she says with a smile.