The thriller will be inspired by the shocking scandal
The two-time BAFTA nominee will star in 'The Woman in the Wall' for the BBC and Showtime.
One of Ireland's most controversial moments in history is set to be covered in a new thriller series from 'Calm with Horses' and 'Gangs of London' writer Joe Murtagh.
The series will follow Lorna Brady, played by 'The Affair and 'His Dark materials' star Ruth Wilson, who suffers from extreme bouts of sleepwalking. One day, she wakes up to find a woman's body in her house - but Lorna begins to question if she might have committed this murder, due to her late-night excursions which she doesn't remember.
Per Deadline, these occurrences began during her teenage years when she was incarcerated in one of the Magdalene Laundries, in Kilkinure Convent. While the town of Kilkinure in Mayo is pure fiction, the foundation of the storyline whereby women were sent to these Laundries to atone for their "sins" remains an abhorrent part of Irish history due to the grip the Catholic Church had on our island.
Two-time BAFTA nominee Ruth Wilson said of playing this deeply troubled woman: "Lorna Brady is a complex and fascinating character, and I’m thrilled to help bring her to life. In 'The Woman in the Wall', Joe has created both an enthralling gothic thriller and a moving examination of the legacy of the Magdalene Laundries. It’s a privilege to bring this story to screens."
Joining Wilson in the six-part series will be 'Peaky Blinders' and 'The Wheel of Time' star Daryl McCormack. The Irish actor will play Detective Colman Akande, "who is on Lorna’s tail for a crime seemingly unrelated to the dead woman in Lorna’s house". According to the character description, the character "has risen quickly through the ranks of the local police force but is hiding his own dark secrets".
Wilson, who is also known for her part in 'Luther', will executive produce 'The Woman in the Wall' series, which is due to begin shooting later this year.
The harsh reality of these Laundries was brought to life in 2002's drama 'The Magdalene Sisters', which earned itself many award wins and nominations, including two BAFTA nods.
Creator and executive producer Joe Murtagh said of the production: "My family is from Mayo, the county in which our fictional town of Kilkinure is set, and it deeply frustrates and saddens me that it feels so few people have heard of the Laundries that existed across Ireland. I hope that by making something that has the familiarity of a genre piece we are able to shed some light on the awful things that occurred within these kind of institutions and introduce this history to the wider public, so that nothing like it may ever happen again."
'The Woman in the Wall' will air on BBC in the UK next year and on Showtime in the US.