The days of Che Diaz are behind us, and now keeping up with Miranda Hobbes’ dating life—or who she’s swooning over—in the third season of And Just Like That… has been some of the most fun I’ve had in a while. The latest to catch her eye? Dolly Wells as Joy, the charming, gossip-loving, buttoned-up-yet-playful BBC producer.

Wells is best known for co-starring with her real-life best friend Emily Mortimer in Doll & Em, the HBO series they co-wrote in the mid-2010s. But her acting credits are impressive—she’s appeared in everything from the Bridget Jones films (Woney forever!) to Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. (British comedy fans will also remember her guest spots on Peep Show.) Now, American audiences get to know her as part of the Sex and the City universe—and the 53-year-old actress is more than ready.

Ahead of And Just Like That’s third season, episode three, Vogue spoke with Wells about revisiting the original Sex and the City, playing Miranda’s new love interest, getting recognized in the park, her love for the BBC, and more.

Vogue: Were you a Sex and the City viewer when it first aired?
Dolly Wells: It’s crazy—I wasn’t, and I don’t know why. I can’t explain it now. I didn’t watch it when I was younger, but it’s like suddenly discovering how amazing dark chocolate is. I’ve seen it all now—I had a Sex and the City binge. All my friends watched it when it came out, but I’ve always been the one who hasn’t seen Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter either. Maybe I was just trying to be cool.

Vogue: Did you have a favorite boyfriend—or girlfriend!—from the original show?
Wells: Oh, I loved Baryshnikov as Carrie’s Russian boyfriend. He was great. I loved how much they all dated. I wasn’t like that at all—I should’ve taken notes! [Laughs.]

Vogue: What drew you to Joy in And Just Like That…?
Wells: It was flattering to be asked. I was really into the show by then, and Joy sounded cool. I love the BBC—if you’re British and an actor, you always hope to be in their projects. They make amazing TV, no commercials, and there’s something special about their tradition. I liked that Joy was a BBC producer, and I loved Miranda’s character. I didn’t know much at first—just that I’d meet Miranda outside the UN—but I liked the potential. Joy seemed interesting.

Vogue: What was working with Cynthia Nixon like?
Wells: She’s a dream. I admire her so much. She’s brilliant at acting, which makes scenes fun, and she’s smart, curious, and kind—just wonderful. Joining the show in season three felt like starting a new school—you don’t want to try too hard with the big girls. At the read-through, I was like, Wow, look at them all. But everyone was so friendly. What really struck me was how passionate they still are—Michael Patrick King, John Melfi, everyone. There’s so much excitement and joy, and I felt lucky. Cynthia is lovely, and playing her girlfriend is a treat.

Vogue: Do your kids watch the show?
Wells: My son hasn’t yet, but he will. My daughter does, and the best part is that my best friend Emily [Mortimer]… [Note: The response was cut off here.]Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while keeping the original meaning intact:

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Her daughter May, who’s 15, has been watching the whole series. It’s amazing to see a whole new generation of young people discovering it.

Speaking of Emily, do you still hear from Doll & Em fans?
Oh yes, all the time. We’d love to do another season at some point. The women on And Just Like That… were really sweet about it too. Just last week, a guy in the park came up to me and said, “I see you here every day with your dog and never say anything, but I just have to tell you how much I love Doll & Em.” That’s so thrilling—getting to create something with my best friend was so much fun. I think we both hope that door isn’t completely closed.

Is Doll & Em what you get recognized for most?
Actually, in England, the thing I’m recognized for most is kind of random—it’s a show called Some Girls that never aired in America. It was on BBC Three, and I played this foul-mouthed New Zealand gym teacher. The show was about these tough, cool teenage girls back in 2006, before messy, complicated female characters were really embraced. They were hilarious and crude.

You were also in an episode of Hacks recently, right?
Yes, it was amazing. Just being around such incredible women—I had to try not to freak out. Jean Smart is unreal; I had a total crush on her. She was so warm, funny, and kind, even though I was only there for a couple of days. It’s so inspiring to meet women like that who are at the absolute top of their game.

(This conversation has been edited and condensed.)

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Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!