Hayley Atwell Ready to Move From ‘Agent Carter’ to ‘Conviction’

Her turn as a Marvel hero didn’t last long, but Hayley Atwell is trying to come back to TV with “Conviction.”

“Agent Carter,” which starred the British actress as a 1940s spy and was set in the Marvel universe of “Captain America,” ran for just two seasons on ABC before getting the ax earlier this year. But Atwell returns this fall in ABC’s procedural drama “Conviction,” playing Hayes Morrison, a former president’s daughter who is blackmailed into heading up a legal team that investigates possible wrongful convictions.

While “Agent Carter” was much-beloved by fanboys and fangirls, Atwell says she’s ready for the quick change.

“It feels like an easy transition when you have good material,” she told reporters Thursday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills,Califoria.

Atwell sees Hayes as a reckless, damaged character who’s living on the edge. In the pilot, she finds herself accused in a major cocaine bust.

“She’s just stayed at the party too long, eating congealed pizza,” she said.  “She doesn’t know how to leave.”

The character has also got a glamorous edge that’s quite different than the 1940s chic of Peggy Carter.

“It’s nice to be in modern attire,” Atwell admitted. “She’s aware of how she looks and she uses her sexuality if she needs to … when you’re wearing beautifully cut, tailored outfits, it gives you confidence.”

The London-born actress said she’s still working to perfect Hayes’ character — or at least the way she speaks.

“Vocally I’m finding my feet with it,” Atwell said of the American role. “There’s some English bits in there that need to ironed out.”