Vanessa Kirby embraces Sue Storm’s ‘Nerd’ Side: ‘I am dying to play Malice in Fantastic Four’ |

Vanessa Kirby is a ‘nerd’ who loves Sue Storm. The 37-year-old actress, who portrays Sue in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has acknowledged that she is totally in love with the character. “I’m such a Sue nerd,” said Vanessa, who co-stars with Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn in the upcoming Marvel film.Speaking to Variety, she reflected on how the character’s journey felt symbolic to her. The transition from being called Invisible Girl to becoming Invisible Woman after confronting her darker side as Malice stood out as especially meaningful. She found the evolution from girlhood to womanhood—marked by facing one’s inner struggles—deeply powerful. She also expressed interest in possibly exploring the Malice arc herself in the future.Vanessa has shown a strong interest in exploring Sue Storm’s darker side, particularly the Malice incarnation. She finds the character’s complex backstory deeply compelling—losing her mother in a car crash, watching her father spiral into alcoholism and eventually land in prison for murder before dying. As a result, Sue had to step into a parental role for her younger brother Johnny, with both siblings forced to navigate life as orphans. This emotionally rich background is what draws Vanessa to portraying the Malice arc.Vanessa admires Sue Storm’s decision to follow a path rooted in positivity and emotional strength. Rather than becoming hardened by her past, Sue chose to remain open-hearted and compassionate. Vanessa sees Sue’s involvement in the Future Foundation not as a grand political statement, but as a natural extension of who she is at her core—a nurturing and resilient figure.Vanessa has previously shared that she’s drawn to roles that challenge her. She finds excitement in projects that push her beyond her comfort zone. For her, the more uncertain a role feels at first glance, the more it signals that it’s worth taking on. If a character feels too easy or predictable, she believes it lacks the thrill and growth that come with true creative challenges.Vanessa has found success both on stage and on screen, and she’s previously reflected on how her passion for acting began with the theater. Growing up in a household where her parents, especially her father, had a deep love for Shakespeare and stage plays, she was surrounded by stories that sparked her imagination. Though she wasn’t sure how to pursue acting professionally at first, her early exposure to theater helped her realize the power of storytelling. She described performing on stage as a shared experience with the audience—one that made her feel deeply connected and truly alive.