“An ordinary family experiences something extraordinary...”
SURANNE JONES AND EVE BEST STAR AS SISTERS REUNITED BY TRAGEDY IN A STUNNINGLY HEARTFELT NEW DRAMA…
In this warm and engaging three-part series we meet sisters Becca (Suranne Jones, who co-created the drama with screenwriter Anne-Marie O’Connor) and Rosaline (Eve Best), who reconnect following the death of their mother. Her body is discovered on the Isle of Man, with Becca and Rosaline left clueless as to why she was there. Holed up on the island as they embark on an uncomfortable quest for the truth, the grieving sisters unravel unfathomable secrets of a woman they thought they knew – with life-changing consequences for them both…
Hello, both – please tell us how the series came about? Suranne I had an initial idea and wrote a treatment about two sisters finding out their mother was leading a double life, with the premise being: ‘How well do you really know your family?’ The attraction for me was that this was a 60something woman – while we’re used to seeing men leading double lives in drama, we never see women, and I was intrigued by that. We wanted to have an ordinary family experience something extraordinary…
What can you tell us about the sisters?
Eve Rosaline and Becca have polar-opposite lives, as often happens with siblings. Rosaline has a high-flying career in London. She’s single, she doesn’t have children. She’s driven, focused, and efficient. What happened with her health when she was younger has had a major effect, giving her strength and resilience – but also, a huge vulnerability. She’s struggled with a deep sense of separation from her mother – there was a bond between her mother and Becca that she could never tap into.
Suranne Becca has two children, a husband, and she’s a busy mum. She works really hard but doesn’t think too much about herself. Then everything that she knows about her mother and herself has been blown apart, bringing up a lot of questions about how happy she is with her life. She and her sister aren’t that close, although Becca would really love to be. I loved playing
“IT’S A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE QUEST FOR THE TRUTH”
her, she feels a very different kind of character for me after the ones I’ve played recently.
How do they deal with what unravels on the
Isle of Man?
Eve In the initial fallout, the more Becca is emotional, the more controlled Rosaline becomes. Not because there isn’t equal pain: it’s a form of self-protection. And then when Becca starts to unravel more and more, it’s Rosaline who becomes the carer, the responsible one. Her strength shines through for both.
Did you have a good time working together? Suranne I didn’t know Eve before Maryland, but I loved Nurse Jackie, and I loved her in The Honourable Woman, so when she agreed to do it, I was like, “Argh!” We had lots of fun and Eve was very supportive right from the off, there were lots of cuddles. I don’t have a sister, so it was a really lovely experience!
Eve Suranne is phenomenal, I think we immediately felt very connected and easy with each other. That energetic balance felt natural without much discussion into the nitty-gritty of being sisters. I think because of the writing and situation, and the atmosphere set by Sue [Tully, series’ director], it was a very supportive and flowing dynamic. And fun!