Sarah Solemani has revealed how she secured her role in ITV's new drama series The Party, which she also adapted from Elizabeth Day's novel. The actress and showrunner was asked by World Productions, the team behind The Pembrokeshire Murders, to adapt the critically acclaimed book for television.
Cast and role details
The series stars Luke Evans as Martin Gilmour, a journalist whose life has been shaped by his enduring friendship with an affluent and magnetic politician played by Tom Cullen. Solemani, best known for Bad Education, Him & Her and Bridget Jones's Baby, plays Martin's pregnant wife Lucy.
Asked at a screening whether she had herself in mind for the role of Lucy, she joked: "Well, I always like to sort of throw in the possibility of employment!"
How she landed the part
Simon Heath, CEO and Creative Director of World Productions, said: "I think the first draft, she had a stage direction describing herself. I was like, 'Isn't this interesting?'"
Solemani explained: "So basically, for every character I want to play, I put in brackets, 'Pointy features, hint of the Middle East.' Then it's like, there, if I want to do it."
She added: "But I did recognise my life and myself in her, not quite belonging, coming from a mixed background. So, yeah, I was very flattered when Mr. Luke Evans said that he also wanted me to play the part."
Adapting the novel
The actress said she was thrilled to be asked by World Productions to transform Elizabeth's book into a TV series for ITV. "It's a great honour to be given a brilliant book with a brilliant story, and from such an incredible company, and with such a talented actor. I immediately saw the TV show. I immediately saw that we could expand and deepen the storylines."
She spoke about the class themes in the series: "I was very compelled by the class component of the show. The British class system remains the most enduring social power hierarchy in the Western world, if not in the world, and we're always very British about it. We kind of make jokes about ourselves and each other, then something like COVID happens, and you question who's in charge, and you question the power hierarchy of class."
The Party airs on ITV1 and ITVX from 9pm on Sunday, October 11.
