Daniel Mays Opens Up About Emotional Toll of Portraying John Worboys in ITV Drama
ITV's upcoming true crime series Believe Me has left a profound impact on its lead actor, Daniel Mays, who has candidly discussed the psychological challenges he faced during filming. The four-part drama, set to air soon on ITV and ITVX, delves into the harrowing story of John Worboys, infamously known as the "black cab rapist," who preyed on women in London between 2006 and 2008.
The Weight of Humanising Evil
In a recent Q&A session with the cast and crew, Mays, a seasoned actor with 26 years of experience, revealed the unexpected difficulty of taking on the role of Worboys. "You're being asked to humanise someone who is evil essentially," he explained, "and it's about delving beneath those headlines and trying to play him as three-dimensional as possible." Despite his extensive career, Mays admitted he underestimated the emotional strain, noting that the portrayal was "a difficult thing and an unsettling thing to depict."
The 48-year-old star of Line of Duty and A Thousand Blows emphasised how the role took its toll, leading him to seek professional support. "We did also have access to a counsellor," Mays shared. "Ended up having a half-hour conversation within the last week, which was definitely needed and was invaluable to me." This admission highlights the intense psychological demands actors face when tackling such dark and complex real-life characters.
Focus on Victims and On-Set Support
Believe Me shifts the narrative focus towards Worboys' victims, particularly Sarah, played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and Laila, portrayed by Aasiya Shah. The series explores their traumatic experiences and the struggle of not being believed after the attacks. Edwards spoke about the importance of having an intimacy coordinator on set to help actors process the emotional fallout.
"I guess the body doesn't necessarily know this is not your trauma, even though your head knows it's not your trauma," Edwards said. "You're so connected that a day after you might feel things that don't really feel like they belong to you, but I think having a space and someone to just check in encourages you to process that in a healthy way, and means you can carry on and sustain it." This insight underscores the critical role of mental health resources in film and television production, especially when dealing with sensitive subject matter.
The drama aims to shed light on the victims' perspectives, offering a nuanced look at one of Britain's most notorious criminal cases. With its imminent release, Believe Me promises to be a compelling yet challenging watch, backed by powerful performances that required significant emotional resilience from its cast.
