Anna Friel insists new ITV drama Deep Water is not "man-bashing"

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

From Digital Spy

Anna Friel and the cast of new ITV drama series Deep Water have denied that it has an "anti-men" theme.

The latest show from Mrs. Wilson writer Anna Symon, premiering Wednesday (August 14), follows friends Lisa (Marcella star Friel), Roz (Being Human's Sinead Keenan) and Kate (Howards End's Rosalind Eleazar) – three busy mums whose desperate attempts to keep up the facade of perfect families takes a sinister turn.

Digital Spy and other media spoke with the leading actresses prior to the series launch, with Rosalind Eleazar explaining why the feminist themes of the "emotional thriller" were so intriguing.

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

"They're flawed human beings, which is a joy to watch and to be a part of... to act in," Eleazar said. "Because that's human life, people are full of contradictions and all sorts of things.

"It's nice to see three women that are incredibly complex and find themselves in completely different circumstances and situations and it's how they deal with the problems that arise, that makes it really fascinating."

While Deep Water does initially show the husbands as less than sympathetic, Anna Friel encouraged viewers to keep an open mind as it progresses.

"This is really important, it's not a man-bashing piece," she stressed. "If you actually, by the end of it, I think [you] might end up having more sympathy for them. [But] not for Scott [Elias]."

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

Eleazar also teased that "the men have a lot to deal with" when the central mysteries of Deep Water begin to unfold.

"It's pro-women, but it isn't anti-men," Friel added. "And I think you'll start to have empathy from both aspects of it... you'll have understanding from both sides of the argument.

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

"Is it empathetic to women's struggles and hardships and juggling career and life? Yes. But can sometimes women make selfish decisions as far as the struggle goes? Yes."

Deep Water will continue next Wednesday (August 21) at 9pm on ITV.


Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter account.

You Might Also Like