Joanna Scanlan's Tense New Drama Echoes Real-World Horrors
Joanna Scanlan stars in the gripping Channel 5 thriller Missed Call, a series that the acclaimed actress describes as chillingly reflective of real life, where communities grapple with "unspeakably horrific" events. The Bafta-winning performer, aged 64, emphasizes that the show avoids sensationalism while tapping into dark, relatable truths.
Drawing Parallels to Reality
Scanlan points to recent news, such as the death of Ian Huntley and the release of Gisèle Pelicot's autobiography, as reminders that the drama's themes are not distant from everyday reality. She explains, "There are strands in communities which are unspeakably horrific, and I think you need to feel a whiff of that danger in this story." The actress believes the series uncovers the "underbelly" of society, where heinous behaviours lurk, and stresses the importance of transparency: "You are as sick as your secrets."
Plot Overview: A Mother's Desperate Search
In Missed Call, which premieres on April 13, Scanlan portrays Sarah Gleason, a single mother who sends her teenage daughter Katie on a school exchange to southern France. After missing a late-night call from Katie, Sarah's attempts to reconnect fail, sparking a frantic investigation. Scanlan notes, "The missed call is the catalyst for things to spiral out of control," revealing that Sarah discovers her daughter has hidden a flirtation with adulthood, including lies about drugs and sex.
Sarah, described as a grounded and sensible person, travels to the fictional village of Saint-Michel, facing evasive police and hostility from Katie's host family, the Morvans. As she delves deeper, she uncovers buried local secrets and learns more about her daughter's hidden life.
Filming Challenges and Cast Dynamics
The production filmed all five episodes on location in the Montpelier region, enduring temperatures up to 40 degrees and mosquito infestations. Scanlan fondly recalls the "delicious" French cuisine, contrasting it with typical UK filming meals. The cast includes Rupert Graves as Sarah's boyfriend Jason, a coach driver with his own demons, and Robert Lindsay as expat Andrew Taylor, a businessman with a mysterious past. Both characters add layers of secrecy, keeping viewers guessing until the finale.
Psychological Depth and Viewer Engagement
Scanlan praises the script for its gripping plot and psychological realism, stating that even during filming, she found herself believing in the sincerity of the criminal character. "The plotting is very good, but what is unusual is that the psychology behind the plotting works too," she adds, highlighting the series' ability to maintain suspense and plausibility.
Missed Call airs on Channel 5 at 9pm, with the full series available for streaming after the first episode.
