What better way to mark the start of summer than with a slice of drama – and a dash of horror – by way of extra-marital affairs, rats in basements and murky pasts.
All of the above is on offer in Paula, a three-part thriller on BBC2 set in Ireland.
It centres around a young woman whose life begins to fall apart after a one night stand. The dangerous handyman who Paula lets into her house to rid her of the rats in her basement, has a traumatic past – and the pair’s animalistic attraction for each other leads them to mutual destruction.
Here’s a guide to who’s who in the predominantly Irish cast…
Denise Gough as Paula
Downbeat yet sarcastically funny, self-destructive yet strong, Paula is a chemistry teacher who’s in a rut. Not only is she having an affair with a married teacher at work, but she also has a strained relationship with her dysfunctional family and she’s got rats in her basement.
Where do I recognise Denise Gough from?
Gough is one of those actors who seems to be on every TV writer’s speed dial – she’s recently been in Guerrilla, Apple Tree Yard and The Fall. Other television roles she’s known for include Cuffs and Stella. Gough is an exceptional stage actor, and won an Olivier Award last year for her performance in People, Places, Things.
Tom Hughes as James
James is a deceptively handsome sociopath who’ll go to extreme lengths to get some cash and feed his family. A handyman by trade, he’s had a dark and troubled past that keeps coming back to haunt him.
Where do I recognise Tom Hughes from?
Tom Hughes is best known for playing Prince Albert in Victoria, but you might have also seen him leading the cast in The Game. He was in Cemetery Junction and Silk, too. The Cillian Murphy lookalike also appeared in About Time, the 2013 Richard Curtis film.
Owen McDonnell as McArthur
McArthur, also known as Mac, is a detective tasked with solving a violent crime.
Where do I recognise Owen McDonnell from?
McDonnell is best known for playing Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll in the Irish drama Single-Handed, in which he played the lead role. More recently he appeared in BBC drama My Mother and Other Strangers.
Edward MacLiam as Philip
Super keen and clingy, but kind-hearted and ultimately harmless, Philip is the married PE teacher who Paula’s having an affair with at the school.
Where do I recognise Edward MacLiam from?
MacLiam recently played David Hornby in DCI Banks – but Holby City fans will know him as registrar Greg Douglas, who he portrayed in the soap for two years.
Gary Lilburn as Mr Henshaw
Mr Henshaw is the head teacher at the school where Paula works. He starts to notice that an affair is going on between her and Laurence.
Where do I recognise Gary Lilburn from?
Our favourite role of Lilburn’s is in Catastrophe, where he played Sharon’s bumbling dad, Des. A couple of his notable roles have seen him play a priest: he was Father Quinn in Mrs Brown’s Boys and a man of the cloth in Philomena, in which he starred alongside Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.
Jane Brennan as Gemma
Gemma is Paula’s mother.
Where do I recognise Jane Brennan from?
Brennan was recently in the film Brooklyn, alongside Julie Walters and Saoirse Ronan, as well as the TV adaptation of Zadie Smith’s novel, NW. You might have also seen her in The Tudors, in which she appeared regularly as Lady Bryan. And she starred alongside Owen McDonnell in Single-Handed.
Sean McGinley as Terry
Terry is Paula’s father, with whom she has a strained relationship.
Where do I recognise Sean McGinley from?
He also starred in Single-Handed, as well as appearing in the 1995 movie Braveheart. He played Malachy in Republic of Doyle for four years. McGinley appeared in Irish drama Love/Hate, as well.
Jonny Holden as Callum
Where do I recognise Jonny Holden from?
This is Holden’s first role in a primetime drama.
Aoibhinn Mcginnity as Crystal
Crystal is one of the women who lives with James, she seems to be the hardier, more street-wise of the two.
Where do I recognise Aoibhinn Mcginnity from?
Mcginnity played Trish in the Irish drama Love/Hate for four years.
Siobhán Cullen as Morgan
Morgan is the other woman who lives with James, she is fragile and clearly afraid of him.
Where do I recognise Siobhán Cullen from?
Cullen appeared in Irish drama The Clinic in 2007.
from Radio Times https://ift.tt/2uhcFnB
