Irish-based actress Aisling Franciosi has been cast as Gabriel Byrne’s daughter in BBC drama series ‘Quirke’, which is currently filming in Ireland.
The role of Phoebe is one of the most prominent roles in John Banville’s series of novels focusing on Dublin pathologist Garrett Quirke in 1950s Ireland. The character was further developed in Banville’s ‘A Death in Summer’, which was released in 2011.
Phoebe was once Quirke’s estranged daughter, but has now evolved into a central character with Banville himself describing the character as the one most like him. Speaking in a 2011 interview with Irish America Magazine, Banville, who wrote the books under the pseudonym Benjamin Black, said: “If there is anybody in those books that’s me, it’s Phoebe. She has a darkness and an obsessiveness that I feel… I won’t say comfortable with, but that I feel a familiarity with.”
Young actress Franciosi has been living in Dublin since the age of five, and has recently wrapped filming on upcoming BBC series ‘The Fall’ as well as RTÉ drama ‘Trivia’.
Also cast in the three-part series is IFTA-winning Irish actor Nick Dunning, who is playing Malachy Griffin.
Dunning, who won an IFTA in 2008 for his role in ‘The Tudors’, is well known for his theatre work both in Ireland and the UK, and has appeared in popular TV series such as ‘Hatfields & McCoy’s’ and ‘Vexed’.
In Banville’s story, Griffin’s family unofficially adopted Quirke, and he subsequently fell foul of the pathologist when he uncovered secrets which linked Griffin to the death of young woman Christine Falls.
A third Irish actor Stanley Townsend, a screen and stage actor, is playing Inspector Hackett, a detective who calls upon Quirke’s services after the mysterious death of successful businessman Victor Delahaye.
Townsend, who was nominated for an IFTA Award in 2009 for his role in ‘Whistleblower’, has also had roles in ‘Sherlock’, ‘Killing Bono’, and recently wrapped filming on Irish-shot feature ‘Standby’ with ‘Mad Men’ actress Jessica Paré.
‘Quirke’ began filming in Dublin on November 19, with Gabriel Byrne playing John Banville’s most famous creation.
Principal photography is expected to last three months, with Jessica Pope the executive producer for the BBC, Ed Guiney for Element Pictures and Joan Egan for Tyrone Productions.
Conor McPherson has adapted Banville’s novels for the screen, with John Alexander (Sense & Sensibility) directing.
Another of John Banville’s novels adapted for the screen, ‘The Sea’, has recently wrapped filming in Wexford. The feature is currently being edited in Dublin post house Windmill Lane Pictures.
‘Quirke’ will air on BBC One in late 2013.
