Irish actresses Elaine Cassidy (Harper’s Island, The Others) and Ruth McCabe (Wake Wood, My Left Foot) have landed roles in two new TV dramas for ITV and BBC Two respectively.
‘Just Henry’, adapted by Michael Chaplin (creator of Graftors and Monarch of the Glen), from Michelle Magorian’s acclaimed novel, tells the of a troubled young man in post WW2 Britain, who has never really got over his father’s death or his mother’s remarriage. But when his father’s war medal for bravery gets posted through the door, Henry wants to find out more about the circumstances of his father’s death, something his mother has always kept quiet about. Elaine Cassidy will take on the role of Henry’s mother Maureen.
The Wicklow born actress’ credits include the role of Lydia in ‘The Others’ and Abby Mills in TV series ‘Harper’s Island’. She won an IFTA for Best Actress in a Lead Role in Television (2010) for her work in ‘Harper’s Island’ and was awarded the IFTA for Best Actress in a Feature Film for her role opposite Cillian Murphy in ‘Disco Pigs’ in 2003.
Other cast in the 1x90 minute film include Josh Bolt (Nowhere Boy) as Henry, Dean Andrews (Marchlands, Ashes to Ashes), Stephen Campbell Moore (Season of theWitch, Ben Hur), Barbara Flynn (Miss Potter, Cracker) and BAFTA nominated actress Sheila Hancock (New Tricks, Bedtime, Moving On). The series will be directed by David Moore (Monroe, Merlin, Sweeney Todd) and produced by Paul Frift (Instinct, Crooked House, Room at the Top). It will be filmed on location in Leeds throughout August and will be scheduled this Christmas on ITV1.
In other casting news for Irish actresses, Ruth McCabe (Wake Wood, My Left Foot) will feature in the upcoming BBC Two 90 minute Historical Drama ‘The Man Who Crossed Hitler’. It tells the true story of a Jewish lawyer who challenged Hitler – and paid with his life. She will play the role of Irmgard Litten, the mother of the audacious Jewish lawyer.
Other cast in the Hardy Pictures production include Ian Hart (Five Daughters) and Ed Stoppard (Upstairs, Downstairs). ‘The Man Who Crossed Hitler’ can be seen on BBC Two this autumn.
