In the new drama Falling, Hawes, 50, plays a woman torn between devotion and desire…

Actress Keeley Hawes stars in a brand new channel 4 drama Falling, a powereful witty and emotionally charged story about faith, desire and the risks of following your heart. Written by BAFTA winner Jack Thorne, the six-part series focuses on Anna (Keeley Hawes), a devoted nun, and David (Paapa Essiedu), a Catholic priest, whose lives are defined by sacred vows until an unexpected connection begins to unravel everything they thought they understood about love and devotion. Directed by Peter Hoar, Falling is a beautifully observed exploration of the pull between duty and longing. Here, Keeley tells us what we can expect from this compelling drama.

Why did Falling appeal to you?

Because at its heart, it’s a love story – beautifully observed, unsentimental and very tender. The characters are so well drawn, and I have wanted to work with Jack Thorne for a long time. I was also intrigued that he’d never written a love story. He has created something very special.

What did you know about the life of a nun?

I grew up opposite a convent in central London, so I saw the comings and goings. It was beautiful but mysterious, with a very high wall. I knew as much as anybody, which is very little, but I was lucky enough to speak at length to a former nun who “jumped over the wall” and left. That was incredibly helpful. Jack had also done lots of research, so it was all in the scripts.

What’s Anna like when we meet her?

She’s very content. She has spent more of her life in the convent than out of it, and the nuns are her family. She is married to God, as David is, and neither of them is expecting this. That’s why it’s so heartbreaking. They’ve given themselves completely, so it’s a real tussle for them.

What happens when she meets David?

They have a moment where their hands touch. It’s not that she’s looking for a way out, so much as it’s a chemical reaction to David specifically.

Why is David right for her?

They’re a great intellectual match and live parallel lives, occasionally coming together for these extraordinary, long scenes. Working with Paapa made it even more special.

How does Anna deal with her feelings?

She’s very cut and dried, straight and honest. She says what’s on her mind, which is shocking, certainly to David. But falling in love for her brings huge guilt. Being a nun is like being in a marriage; you’ve forsaken everything else. To question that is unthinkable. She’s walking away from her family, her home, with nothing but the clothes she’s wearing. It’s like a bereavement, and yet it’s also the most wonderful thing.

Falling starts on Channel 4 on 19 May at 9pm.

Source: Your Magazine