Unforgivable cast: From Line of Duty to Marcella, here's where you recognise the characters from
Anna Friel, David Threlfall and Anna Maxwell Martin star in the new BBC drama.
Unforgivable is BBC Two’s gripping new drama that explores the devastating ripple effects of child abuse within a family.
Set against the backdrop of Liverpool and penned by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, the standalone drama follows Joe, a man newly released from prison after serving time for the abuse of his young nephew.
Starring Line of Duty’s Anna Maxwell Martin and Marcella’s Anna Friel, the show features a stellar ensemble cast.
As Unforgivable hits screens, here’s the full cast list - including the characters they play and where you’ve seen the actors before.
Unforgivable cast
Below is the full cast list:
- Anna Friel as Anna McKinney
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine Farrell
- Bobby Schofield as Joe Mitchell
- Austin Haynes as Tom McKinney
- Fin McParland as Peter McKinney
- David Threlfall as Brian Mitchell
- Mark Womack as Paul Patterson
- Phina Oruche as Jodie Taylor
- Paddy Rowan as Sammy McVeigh
For more on the cast, keep scrolling...
Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine Farrell
Who is Katherine Farrell? Katherine is a former nun who Joe meets at St Maura's, an institution which offers him a home and rehabilitation after his release.
"Katherine is part of Joe’s reintroduction into society. She believes in rehabilitation for people who have formerly been sex offenders. She's a former nun and an all-round good person," Anna Maxwell Martin said.
What else has Anna Maxwell Martin been in? The actress is known for playing DCS Patricia Carmichael in the BBC's Line of Duty. She won two British Academy Television Awards for playing Esther Summerson in the BBC adaptation of Bleak House and starred as N in the Channel 4 remake of Poppy Shakespeare.
Anna Friel as Anna McKinney
Who is Anna McKinney? Anna McKinney is a mum and the sister of Joe, who was imprisoned for abusing her son.
Speaking about her character, Friel said: "Her character traits are fiercely protective, she’s somewhat stubborn, clean-living, and very, very hard, working. She's holding together a broken family that has been devastated by sexual abuse. This event has wreaked havoc on the entire family unit and dynamic.
"Her marriage is over, her brother's in prison, and her mother's just died. She financially supports her two sons single-handedly who she loves very much. Her son, Tom, hasn't spoken since he's been abused. He will only answer with yes and no."
What else has Anna Friel been in? Anna Friel rose to fame as Beth Jordache in the Channel 4 soap Brookside. Since then, she's appeared in various shows, including Pushing Daisies and Marcella, for which she won the International Emmy for Best Actress in 2017.
Bobby Schofield as Joe Mitchell
Who is Joe Mitchell? Joe is set to be released from prison following the abuse of his nephew Tom.
"He hates himself and blames himself. He thinks that it's not worth opening up to anybody because people are just going to hate him for what he's done. He then learns at a crucial point in the drama that there could be a reason why he did what he did - because he too was sexually abused," McGovern said of the character.
What else has Bobby Schofield been in? Schofield previously appeared in Guy Ritchie's The Covenant, Black Sea, Don't Breathe 2 and The Devil's Harmony.
Austin Haynes as Tom McKinney
Who is Tom McKinney? Tom is a teenager and the son of Anna McKinney. He was abused by his uncle Tom, who has just been released from prison.
Speaking of the character, McGovern said: "We also show the boy affected by it, Tom, and his refusal to speak. He can't communicate
because he knows if he had been able to communicate at the time it was about to happen, it would not have happened. That's a huge thing for a child to feel and the consequences of that have been enormous."
What else has Austin Haynes been in? Haynes started acting at the age of seven and has appeared in several films and TV shows, including The Boys in the Boat, The Duke and The Railway Children Return. He also featured in Netflix’s Adolescence, which became a breakout hit and earned widespread acclaim for its raw and relatable portrayal of teenage life.
David Threlfall as Brian Mitchell
Who is Brian Mitchell? Brian is the father of Joe and Anna.
"It was great to finally work with David Threlfall. I'd always admired him. I was delighted when he said yes even though it’s a cough and a spit from what he’s used to doing," McGovern said.
What else has David Threlfall been in? Threlfall is best recognised for his iconic portrayal of Frank Gallagher in the Channel 4 series Shameless. In addition to starring in the show, Threlfall also stepped behind the camera to direct several episodes.
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