BETWEEN THE LINES
EMILY WATSON AND DENISE GOUGH STAR AS PSYCHIATRIST AND PATIENT IN THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER…
This dark and gripping serial tells of experienced forensic psychiatrist Dr Emma Robertson (Emily Watson) and her high-security patient Connie Mortensen (Denise Gough), who claims to remember nothing of the horrendous crime of which she’s been accused – and while Emma is determined to see justice done, the women develop a perilous bond…
“Connie is very sensitive and clever, and in another life these women would be equals and friends,” says Emily. “Emma is the very best at what she does, but also has a troubled inner life, because of her past – something she hasn’t dealt with. Connie senses Emma’s weaknesses, and starts to probe. Emma struggles with her professional approach, and their relationship goes way over that line. It’s very volatile and dangerous…”
The mini-series – based on a novel of the same name, and directed by former EastEnders’ star Sue Tully (Michelle Fowler) – will play out over three nights this week, with Connie held in a psychiatric unit ahead of her trial, and Emma (married to barrister Si, played by Risteárd Cooper) tasked with assessing Connie’s state of mind on the night of her offence.
“Connie has driven a car off a bridge with two young children in the back – but we also see her life leading up to that point,” reveals Denise. “She had a stable marriage, raising her children, although maybe she was a little bit disillusioned. And then you have to watch it to see why…”
During their sessions, Emma attempts to discover the nature of Connie’s relationship with her friend and neighbour Ness Jones (Thalissa Teixeira). As Emma continues to dig, Connie reacts violently, trying to derail Emma with barbed accusations about her own life.
“Connie is aggressive from the start, and you are not on her side,” admits Denise. “She’s already had a couple of people coming in to try to work her out, and doesn’t like being studied. But Emma is deeply compassionate and goes above and beyond.”
Emma is fiercely protective of her patient, despite her work proving detrimental to her relationship with her husband. Nevertheless, Emma is
IN ANOTHER LIFE, CONNIE AND EMMA WOULD BE FRIENDS!”
EMILY
unflinching in her bid to unearth the truth.
“Everybody arrives at that point from things that have happened to them, and been done to them,” says Emily. “The scenes between Connie and Emma were filmed in Holloway Prison in London and are very intense. It’s a race against time to uncover the truth…”