Summary

• "The Woman in the Wall" blends psychological thrills with real history, exploring the macabre secrets of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries.
• The impressive cast of the series skillfully bring complex and damaged characters to life, including Ruth Wilson as the troubled protagonist Lorna Brady.
• The show delves into the trauma endured by the characters and their quest for justice, making it more than just a typical detective story.

Blending psychological thrills with real history, The Woman in the Wall is a critically acclaimed mystery drama that relies on the strength of its impressive cast and characters. Created by Joe Murtagh, who wrote both Calm With Horses and American Animals, the series has captivated audiences with its macabre plot and pervasive paranoia. Blending these themes in such a way as to avoid slipping into melodrama requires a cast who both understand their roles and are capable of exploring incredibly complex emotions on screen.

The Woman in the Wall stars Ruth Wilson as Lorna Brady, a woman with a troubled past who suddenly wakes up to discover a body in her home. The series follows Lorna as she desperately tries to uncover the truth, all while slowly unpacking traumatic secrets from her past. Combining the thrills of a more traditional mystery drama with a basis in fact, the show draws on the shocking history of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries – places where so-called "fallen women" would be sent to work in objectionable conditions. Telling their stories means that The Woman in the Wall's cast is tasked with more than bringing a detective story to life.

Ruth Wilson

Lorna Brady

The woman at the center of the drama, Ruth Wilson's Lorna Brady is deeply damaged from her experience in the laundry. Although she is the show's protagonist, there's a strong sense that Lorna is also an unreliable narrator, having suffered for a long time from sleepwalking – caused by the trauma she endured at the Magdalene Laundries. Realizing such a complex character is no easy task. Fortunately, Ruth Wilson has a wealth of experience with such parts. Her most prominent roles include Mrs Coulter in His Dark Materials, Alice Morgan in Luther, and Alison Wilson in the acclaimed Mrs Wilson – a show based on her own family history.

Daryl McCormack

Detective Colman Akande

Completing The Woman in the Wall's central double-act, Daryl McCormack's Detective Akande is another character who remains inexorably defined by past trauma. Although ostensibly investigating the murder of a priest, it soon becomes clear that he and Lorna share a long-term connection through the laundry. Like his costar Wilson, McCormack has an impressive CV and experience playing various complicated characters. His biggest roles to date include the title role in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, for which he earned a BAFTA nomination, and playing Aram in Amazon Prime Video's sprawling fantasy series The Wheel of Time.

Philippa Dunne

Niamh

Another compelling character driven by a determination to pursue justice, Niamh is also defined by the legacy of the laundry. Despite the controversial service being closed, Niamh finds her calling as a campaigner, seeking recompense for all the women whose lives were fundamentally altered by the laundries' existence. The character is played by Philippa Dunne, who brings a dark fury to the part that may seem somewhat surprising, given Dunne's previous credits. Many of her biggest roles have been comedic, including Geraldine Devlin in Derry Girls, and Anne Flynn in Motherland.

Simon Delaney

Sgt Aidan Massey

A conservative police officer who frequently comes into conflict with Detective Akande, Aidan Massey is frequently presented as an obstructive presence. Despite the clear tensions that exist within his community as a result of a complicated and traumatic history, Massey is determined not to stir up trouble in this town. As a result, the real answers at the heart of The Woman in the Wall take longer to unearth than they otherwise might have done. Actor Simon Delaney is another drama veteran, with roles ranging from Timothy Ash Brannon in The Good Wife to Vic Nottingham in The Conjuring 2.

Hilda Fay

Amy Kane

Another of the women whose lives have been tragically altered by their experiences in the laundry, Amy Kane is portrayed as deeply damaged. Despite her sympathetic character, however, she is also identified as one of the key suspects in the case of Father Percy's murder. Amy is expertly played by Hilda Fay, a 51-year-old Irish actor. Unlike other members of The Woman in the Wall's cast, Fay's performance as Amy Kane represents something of a breakthrough, arguably being her biggest credit to date. Her other roles include Joan in 2023's Northern Lights and Josephine in Whistleblower.

Frances Tomelty

Sister Eileen

One of the more antagonistic presences in The Woman in the Wall, Sister Eileen is rooted in the tradition of other malign authority figures like Nurse Ratched. As Mother Superior of the Kilkinure laundry, she imposed a strict structure on the women who worked there – often with damaging results. Tomelty – who was married to rock star Sting from 1976 to 1984 – has credits in a range of dramatic productions, including Merlin, The White Queen, and A Perfect Spy.

Michael O'Kelly

Young Father Percy

Another central figure in The Woman in the Wall's sprawling story, Father Percy is a major presence at the laundry around which much of the drama is centered. As the man responsible for Lorna's incarceration, he is a relatively unsympathetic character. However, when an investigation is opened into his murder, the full extent of his role is revealed. Michael O'Kelly has appeared in several TV and movie productions, including as a barrister in Kin and the short film Taking Stock.

The Woman In The Wall Supporting Cast & Characters

Amy Fitz as Young Lorna – An important feature of The Woman in the Wall's drama is its dual timeline. Amy Fitz's performance as a young Lorna is key in bringing this narrative approach to life. Fitz is most recognizable from the Irish crime drama Redemption.

Nicolas Nunes de Souza as Young Colman – Much like the younger version of Lorna, young Colman is crucial to The Woman in the Wall's full story. According to IMDb, The Woman in the Wall is Nicolas Nunes de Souza's only acting credit to date.

Aoibhinn McGinnity as Young Sister Eileen – While Frances Tomelty's version of the character is a shadow of her former self, Aoibhinn McGinnity's young Sister Eileen is an extremely intimidating presence in the laundry. McGinnity herself is known for Vikings Valhalla and Smother.

Ardal O'Hanlon as Dara – A central figure in The Woman in the Wall's drama, Dara is both the ex-husband of Aoife (the woman discovered in Lorna's house), and the man seen driving Father Percy's car. Ardal O'Hanlon is one of the most recognizable members of The Woman in the Wall's supporting cast, having appeared in beloved shows like Father Ted and Death in Paradise.