Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker are set to star in ITV's upcoming thriller Frauds, playing two criminals who reunite for one final heist. Jones, who also co-created the series, underwent a dramatic transformation for her role as Bert, sporting fake tattoos, baggy bowling shirts, and dyed blonde hair.
The six-part series follows Bert, who reunites with her former criminal partner Sam, played by Whittaker, in southern Spain after spending 10 years in prison. Bert, out on compassionate leave following a cancer diagnosis, convinces Sam to take on one last job.
Jones said she was excited to change her look after playing a fictional prime minister in Netflix's Hostage. 'I knew I wanted to wear board shorts and masculine clothes, and very wrong tattoos that she'd had done when she was drunk,' she explained. 'I felt like Bert didn't give a s**t about anything.'
Writer Anne-Marie O'Connor said the show is less about the heist and more about the complexities of female friendship. 'The heist is a Trojan horse for the female friendship story of it – the complexities and the greyness,' she said. Jones and O'Connor drew on their own experiences with toxic friendships when developing the idea.
Whittaker, who described herself as 'the most un-rule-breaking person', enjoyed exploring the dynamic between the two characters. 'They're my absolute life,' she said of her own female friendships. Jones also served as executive producer, with Whittaker praising her energy and dedication on set.
