Miriam Petche has spoken about the responsibility of portraying Carrie Johnson, formerly Symonds, in ITV's new true crime drama Believe Me. The four-part series, written by Jeff Pope, chronicles the experiences of women targeted by serial rapist John Worboys and their fight for justice.
Carrie Johnson, wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was 19 when she was attacked by Worboys in 2007. She later gave evidence against him and led a campaign to prevent his release. Johnson served as a consultant on the series, which was created in partnership with actual survivors.
Petche, known for her role in Industry, said: 'I took it very seriously. A lot of respect has to go into something like this. It's about what's written in the script and what's publicly stated.' She added that the drama focuses on a specific earlier period, offering a new perspective on Johnson's public profile.
In a statement, Johnson said: 'I hope Believe Me serves as a wake-up call to the police, the CPS, and the parole board. Far too often, women and girls are failed by the very institutions meant to protect them.'
Philippa Dunne, who plays solicitor Harriet Wistrich, revealed she relied on Post-It notes during Zoom auditions due to the technical legal jargon. 'It was the most dialect I've had to learn,' she said.
