Anna Friel to star in Paula Daly drama, Deep Water

Award-winning actresses Anna Friel, Sinead Keenan and Rosalind Eleazar have been cast in ITV’s gripping emotional thriller, Deep Water.

The female-led ensemble series, set in the Lake District, is written by Anna Symon (Indian Summers, The Wilsons) and adapted from the Windermere series of novels by Paula Daly.

The series focuses on the lives of three women, living in and around the beautiful surroundings of Windermere. It’s a modern look at family and the pressures we put ourselves under as we juggle busy lives. In striving to do their best for their families the women are capable of making some controversial choices in an attempt to hold everything together and keep their heads above deep water.

International Emmy winning actress Anna Friel (Marcella, Butterfly) plays mother of three Lisa Kallisto, who juggles her hectic family life with running a business, which keeps her occupied at all hours. Chaotic and disorganised, Lisa, is married to Joe who works night and day as a taxi driver.

Physiotherapist Roz, played by RTS award-winning and BAFTA nominated actress Sinead Keenan (Little Boy Blue) once had a thriving private practice, but the debts run up by her soulmate Winston leave the family facing financial ruin. If she can pay off their debts they will get their lives back on track. Roz is offered help from an unexpected quarter. The decision she makes could change the course of her life.

Kate Riverty, played by Rosalind Eleazar (Howard’s End, Rellik), seems to have it all – wealthy and attractive and with a well-drilled and highly organised family life. Mother to Lucinda and Fergus, and married to Guy, Kate invites her friend Lisa and husband Joe to dinner, but the evening goes spectacularly wrong for Lisa after she makes a spontaneous decision..

With a stunning home overlooking Lake Windermere, Kate and Guy appear to be two of life’s winners, but is it possible Kate is too good to be true?

With complex, vibrant main characters, Deep Water takes a modern look at families, the pressure of juggling busy lives, and is an exploration of what it means to be a ‘perfect’ mother.

Polly Hill commented, ‘Anna has cleverly woven together two of Paula’s brilliant novels, to create a wonderful modern and layered series. It’s about three very different women on their own incredible and often shocking journeys, whose lives connect at the school gates. It’s funny, sexy, truthful and often outrageous, and should have the audience asking what they would do to hold their own family together.’

Karen Wilson (The Tunnel, Utopia, Hustle), Diederick Santer (Tin Star, Man in an Orange Shirt, Grantchester) and Anna Symon will executive produce the drama.

Deep Water will be filmed in the stunning Cumbrian countryside in the autumn of 2018.

Details of casting and key production personnel appointments will be advised before filming commences.