Iwan Rheon hopes the BBC's harrowing climate change thriller The Rapture makes viewers 'think about the world'. Based on Liz Jensen's 2010 novel, the series is set in a near-future where temperatures in the UK continue to rise and religious cults run rampant. The psychological thriller stars Ruth Madeley as forensic psychologist Gabrielle Fox, who believes inmate Bethany Krall (India Amarteifio) is innocent of murdering her mother.
Rheon on the series' themes
Speaking to Metro, the former Game of Thrones star said: 'I hope people enjoy a female-led psychological drama that's genuinely thought-provoking. It might make people think a little about the world and how it works, but at its core it's about people who've become a bit lost finding themselves again. It's thoughtful, but it also has humour, warmth and a bit of cheekiness as well.'
Rheon, who plays struggling journalist Dick, acknowledged the series sounds 'a bit mad' when listing its themes of religion, climate change and psychic powers. 'But really, at its heart, it's about two women and their relationship, and two people rediscovering themselves after going through real hardship,' he said. 'It's dealing with huge themes like climate change, religion and the media, but it keeps bringing things back to believable characters. I think that's what makes it work.'
Playing Dick
Rheon described his character as 'a lot of fun to play'. 'When we first meet him he's completely lost, sitting in apathy and trying to rediscover himself,' he said. 'We had to make sure that he didn't become a caricature. Things like him putting vodka in his orange juice might be funny, but they're also signs that he's struggling. I wanted people to feel that he wasn't just a bumbling idiot – he'd genuinely lost his way.'
He praised co-star Ruth Madeley, calling her 'wonderful to work with' and 'such a warm person and a real leader on set'.
Filming in Wales
Filmed in Wales, Rheon noted that the current scorching temperatures were absent during much of the shoot. He appreciated returning to South Wales, saying: 'It was lovely to be back home. I'm really proud of what Wales offers as a filming location now. We've got fantastic crews, brilliant facilities and so many different landscapes.'
Future roles
Known for playing dark villains like Ramsay Bolton, Rheon said he would happily take on more straightforward roles. 'It's always more interesting to play complex characters because there's more to get your teeth into,' he said. 'Having said that, it would be nice to play someone completely straightforward every now and then. They don't always have to be tortured!'
All episodes of The Rapture are available on BBC iPlayer.
