Laura Bayston, the actress portraying Kate McCann in a new Channel 5 factual drama, has opened up about a particularly harrowing scene that left her feeling as though she had been punched in the stomach. The drama, titled Under Suspicion, explores the intense interrogation of Kate McCann by Portuguese police following the disappearance of her daughter, Madeleine, in 2007.
The Scene That Shook the Actress
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Bayston described the moment when police offered Kate McCann a chance to confess as profoundly affecting. “It was a very claustrophobic environment,” she recalled. “As an actor having to respond to the dialogue, it was very affecting. It felt like a massive punch in the guts when that was offered to Kate. It really even today gets to me; it was really shocking.”
Bayston acknowledged that while the set felt safe, the emotional weight of the story made the experience difficult to shake off. “It’s been hard to switch off from this one,” she confessed. “I think it sits just below the surface of my skin, and it always will. It leaves me with goosebumps thinking about it because I was so invested in the case when it happened, due to my children.”
A Role Not Taken Lightly
Bayston emphasised that she accepted the role only after ensuring the production was made for the right reasons. “It was emotionally challenging, but I’ve played emotionally challenging roles before,” she said. “To play a role like this, you have to remember that at the heart of it, this is a real-life case. This is a real woman who is still alive. Being mindful and respectful throughout was really important to me.”
The drama, which airs on Channel 5, is based on official statements and recorded testimony, depicting Kate’s interrogation as Portuguese investigators faced mounting pressure to deliver answers. Madeleine vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, in May 2007. Kate and her husband Gerry McCann were cleared of any wrongdoing in 2008 after being wrongly accused of a cover-up.
An Emotional Message to Viewers
In a heartfelt message, Bayston urged viewers to remember that “there’s always another side to the story.” She added: “You don’t always react and respond how you think you’re going to. There have been a lot of knee-jerk reactions from day one, but no one truly knows. Madeleine is still missing. This drama is based on evidence and transcripts, thoroughly researched. People can take from it what they like, because we’ve presented a script as honestly and truthfully as possible.”
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann airs Wednesday, 20th May at 9pm on Channel 5.
