Task: Emilia Jones on that explosive finale and how no one recognized her as the actress from an Oscar-winning movie

Task might have wrapped up with its pulse-racing finale, but for Emilia Jones, the real surprise came off-screen as hardly anyone realized she was the same actress from CODA, the 2021 Oscar-winning film.

Jones found that hilarious and deeply flattering. She told Deadline;

“That’s the best part of acting...”

She addressed how easily people believed in Maeve, her tough yet tender character. For Jones, Task became more than a show; it was a chance to vanish completely into someone else.

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The finale that had Emilia Jones' adrenaline shooting through the roof

When the final episode of Task dropped, fans were glued to their screens. But for Emilia Jones, filming that chaotic showdown was as wild as it looked. Speaking to Deadline, she said,

“It was so much fun because I love stunts and it was the climax of the show. My adrenaline was so high the whole time.”

Jones added that co-star Sam Keeley, who plays Jayson, gave her the ultimate pep talk before filming began.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s just go for it.’ We went a bit off-script, trading moves back and forth. It was so challenging but incredibly fun.”

That final fight scene, being so messy and emotional, mirrored Maeve’s own inner chaos. The character had spent the whole series juggling guilt, survival, and her uncle Robbie’s shadow. Jones explained;

“Maeve’s been torn by his choices...Even when he put her in danger, she knew his heart was in the right place.”

Working opposite Tom Pelphrey, who played Robbie, was one of her favorite parts of the job. She said;

“He’s such a giving actor,” she said. “There’s anger, resentment, and love all tangled up between them. But Tom and I trusted each other completely, which made the heavy scenes easier.”

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From CODA to Task: Emilia Jones proves she’s the queen of transformation

Few actors could go from playing the sweet, musically gifted Ruby Rossi in CODA to a gritty survivor like Maeve in Task, but Jones did it so convincingly that fans didn’t even connect the dots.

“So many people texted me saying they didn’t realize it was me until episode two or three. I take that as a huge compliment.”

For Jones, that reaction means she achieved exactly what she wanted, which was to be wholly immersed in the character. She said;

“I love disappearing into characters...That’s always been my goal.”

She also credits CODA for opening the door to Task, and even though CODA brought her worldwide recognition, Task gave her something more personal.

“Maeve came to me when I really needed her,” Jones said. “This role was cathartic. I learned so much about myself through her.”

She recalled her time on set, bonding with the kids who played her on-screen family, even the cheeky one who kept calling her “chicken butthole.”

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For Emilia Jones, Task was both a professional and personal turning point as it was a story of grit, grief, and growth that let her show just how far she could stretch as an actor.

While audiences were busy gasping over the finale’s intensity, Jones quietly celebrated the best compliment she could get: no one recognizing her from CODA. And that, for her, is the real magic of acting and a job done right.

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Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.

Also read: Why did the show kill off Robbie and Lizzie in Episode 6?