The BBC psychological thriller The Woman in the Wall has soared into Netflix's most-watched list since dropping on the streaming platform this week. Originally debuting in 2023, the six-part drama has been labelled "exceptional" and "captivating from the very beginning" by fans, with some hailing it as "one of the best shows ever".
What is The Woman in the Wall about?
The series follows Lorna Brady (Ruth Wilson), a troubled woman living in a small Irish town who struggles with extreme sleepwalking. Her condition is a result of being incarcerated in a convent's Magdalene Laundry as a pregnant teenager, where her baby was taken away. After sleepwalking one night, she discovers a dead body in her house with no memory of what happened. Dublin detective Colman Akande (Daryl McCormack) arrives to investigate the murder of a local priest, and their worlds collide in a tense cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Is The Woman in the Wall based on a true story?
The fictional characters and town of Kilkinure are invented, but the backstory of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes is based on real historical events. These institutions, run by Roman Catholic religious orders from the 18th century, housed "fallen women" – unmarried mothers, rape victims, and those deemed promiscuous – forced to work long, unpaid hours in silence. Pregnant women had their babies taken away shortly after birth, often placed into secretive or illegal adoptions without consent.
Filming locations and cast
The fictional town of Kilkinure was brought to life primarily in Portaferry, County Down, Northern Ireland, with additional filming in County Mayo, Western Ireland. Ruth Wilson leads the cast as Lorna Brady, known for The Affair, Jane Eyre, and Luther. Daryl McCormack plays Detective Colman Akande, with credits including Peaky Blinders and Bad Sisters. Other cast members include Hilda Fay, Philippa Dunne, and Chizzy Akudolu.
