Yahoo News Criminal's Katherine Kelly on unusual casting of David Tennant and Hayley Atwell
Netflix's Criminal UK positions David Tennant and Hayley Atwell on the other side of the law as suspects accused of abhorrent crimes – which co-star Katherine Kelly points out are roles we rarely see them in.
Kelly stars as hardy Detective Hobbs in the police procedural drama, which is set exclusively in the confines of an interrogation room and focuses on the intense mental conflict between the police officer and the suspect in question.
The star has previously played a police officer in Happy Valley, a suspect in Cheat, and will play a detective inspector next in series two of ITV's Liar.
Fans might have expected to see Tennant cast as the lead detective in the crime drama, rather than a suspect in a one-off episode, partly because of his high profile, but also because of his renowned role as DI Alec Hardy in Broadchurch.
We're also used to Agent Carter star Atwell fighting crime or injustices in TV and film, so her part as a woman being questioned over the murder of her sister's partner was something Kelly wasn't initially expecting.
"I remember looking at Hayley Atwell halfway through our episode and I said to her, 'I'm normally you, and you're normally me'," Kelly told Digital Spy.
"Which is another joy of this show for everybody, especially the guests, to play what they're not usually cast as, so that's all part of the nuance and thrill of the show."
Related: Netflix's Criminal creators reveal how they got such a good cast
Speaking about her character's motivations – she heads up the police investigations – Kelly added: "It's always about the job for Hobbs, and in the interview room everyone has to put on a performance.
"They'll do anything. The cruelness... [of what they are willing to do]... Hayley's character is a chatter which is great because David Tennant's character, it's quite hard to get him to talk. Hobbs had to be quite tricksy and she is willing to do anything to get a result."
The cast of Criminal also includes Lee Ingleby, Rochenda Sandall, Shubham Saraf, Youssef Kerkour and Nicholas Pinnock.
Criminal is available to stream on Netflix now.
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