HBO’s new series Industry highlights the realities of working in the finance industry, life in London, and the hardships that come with being a young adult. The show was created by two former investment bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay who are now using their finance past and their talent for writing to tell the stories of five young graduates at Pierpoint & Co competing for a full-time position at the prestigious bank.
Unlike many of the finance films and television, series viewers have witnessed in the past, the show packs well-written storylines that shed light on some of the harsh realities of working in finance and the difficulties within the workplace. Industry has no intention of glorifying finance or making the focus of the show money. Pierpoint & Co and the graduates are used for telling more complex storylines tackling race, privilege, gender, and all of their intersections.
Yasmin, played by Marisa Abela, on the surface is presented as a privileged polyglot living in her parents’ lavish Notting Hill home. However, the depth of Yasmin and her fight for respect in the workplace shows the truth and complexities behind the character. Her privilege is erased in the competition for a position at Pierpoint & Co and she often finds herself being reduced to the one disadvantage she possesses: her gender. Yasmin as well as the other three female characters Harper and Daria are often seen being minimized within the work environment. Yasmin in particular is seen in “humbling” positions grabbing lunches for her superiors and being ignored for her professional opinions while simultaneously being objectified for her appearance. She finds herself learning how to assert herself because she is often forced to be seen and not heard.
Marisa Abela’s portrayal of Yasmin will allow many women who have experienced many of the several discomforts that come with being in a male-dominated space to feel seen. The portrayal of the diverse realities that take place in the workplace and the world as a whole feels authentic and raw.
Industry airs Monday evenings on HBO. Check out our exclusive chat with Marisa above!
