SERIES: Bloodlands
Bloodlands – now streaming on BritBox SA - is a thriller about fictional detective Tom Brannick, who is forced to grapple with his past when he is sent on the hunt for a mythical assassin.
Irish actor Charlene McKenna best known for her role in Peaky Blinders, plays Detective Sergeant Niamh McGovern.
What is Bloodlands about?
Bloodlands is a thriller set in Northern Ireland. It follows Detective Tom Brannick and myself, DS Niamh McGovern, as they try to solve the mystery of a car pulled from Strangford lough containing a possible suicide note. Brannick quickly connects it to an infamous cold case, and it seems to have a lot of personal significance for him. Bloodlands follows our hunt for the legendary assassin known as "Goliath", an explosive cat-and-mouse game where the stakes are incredibly high.
Tell us about DS Niamh McGovern?
Niamh is a cool customer. She is at times hard to read, and she reveals very little about her personal life. Her cogs are always turning, and she is like a bloodhound, very instinctive. She is incredibly bright, and the fact that she is already a DS and a woman at such a relatively young age is an incredible feat.
Describe the dynamic between DS McGovern and DI Tom Brannick. What does she make of him?
Niamh has been working with Tom for about six months when you come to meet them. They have a good working relationship and enjoy each other's company. There's an ease and banter between them. However, Niamh is not fast to trust anyone, and so while she likes Tom a lot, the only person she's sure of is herself.
Did you do any specific preparation for the role?
Chris Brandon and Jed Mercurio were always on hand for my many questions, as was Pete Travis, our director. I watched some documentaries and read anything I could. Having grown up on the border during the Troubles, I had some first-hand experience of it all, and with Niamh being from a similar background and upbringing, I felt we shared some common DNA, so I felt ready to play her. We also had amazing on-site PSNI and forensic consultants to help with research and any questions we had.
What was it like filming in Belfast?
I love filming in Belfast. It's such a vibrant city; the people are so warm and friendly and good-humoured. We were lucky; it was just before Covid-19 wreaked havoc on the world, so we could enjoy all its amazing bars and restaurants. It's also only an hour or so from my hometown, so I could go see my family on the weekends, which was awesome.
How was playing opposite James Nesbitt?
I had worked with Jimmy before on his series Lucky Man, so we knew we got on really well. I've also been a huge fan of his work growing up, so it was an honour to play alongside him. We spent many days laughing and trying not to corpse, which is just the tonic you need when you're filming tough scenes and long days. He was also always available if I needed anything, which I found incredibly generous of spirit.
Did you find any scenes particularly challenging or memorable to film?
We had to shoot in very extreme weather, gale-force storms, snow, ice; you name it. Northern Ireland in deep winter on the coast is always challenging. We had a particularly trying week or more shooting on the stunning islands of Strangford Lough. We were so cold it was hard to speak at times, as our lips were numb, and we had to take speed boats to the mainland for toilet breaks! The cast and crew were amazing morale boosters during those days. We did all we could to lift each other up. I'll never forget it.
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
This interview was supplied to Channel24 by BritBox SA.