Premiering on ITV and ITVX on February 17, 2025, with a simultaneous U.S. release on BritBox, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story revisits one of Britain’s most infamous criminal cases. This gripping historical drama chronicles the life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the United Kingdom in 1955, whose tumultuous affair with racing driver David Blakely ended in tragedy. The series explores themes of obsession, class divide, and systemic injustice, set against the backdrop of 1950s London’s glamorous yet gritty nightlife.
With a powerhouse cast and a script that blends fact with psychological depth, the show re-examines Ellis’s story through a modern lens, questioning the societal pressures and gender biases that shaped her fate. Prepare for a haunting exploration of love, violence, and the quest for redemption.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story Cast list:
1. Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis
Lucy Boynton, acclaimed for her transformative roles in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) as Mary Austin and The Politician (2019–2020), steps into the titular role of Ruth Ellis, the nightclub hostess whose life spiraled into infamy. Boynton’s ability to portray complex, emotionally layered women—seen in I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)—makes her a perfect fit for Ellis’s duality of vulnerability and defiance.
In A Cruel Love, Boynton captures Ellis’s desperation and charisma, navigating her turbulent relationships and the societal scorn that branded her a “scarlet woman.” Her performance promises to humanize Ellis beyond the tabloid headlines, offering a poignant look at a woman trapped by her circumstances.
2. Toby Stephens as David Blakely
Toby Stephens, known for his magnetic intensity in Black Sails (2014–2017) as Captain Flint and Lost in Space (2018–2021) as John Robinson, plays David Blakely, Ruth’s charming yet volatile lover. Stephens’s career is defined by roles that blend allure and menace, making him ideal to embody Blakely’s toxic magnetism.
Stephens delves into Blakely’s contradictions—a privileged playboy whose jealousy and recklessness ignite the couple’s downward spiral. His chemistry with Boynton crackles with tension, mirroring the destructive passion that doomed the real-life pair.
3. Toby Jones as Desmond Cussen
Toby Jones, the BAFTA-winning character actor celebrated for The Hunger Games (2012–2015) as Claudius Templesmith and Harry Potter’s (2002–2011) Dobby the elf, portrays Desmond Cussen, Ellis’s overlooked lover and Blakely’s rival. Jones excels at understated roles brimming with quiet longing, as seen in Berberian Sound Studio (2012).
Cussen’s unrequited love for Ellis adds tragic depth to the story, with Jones masterfully conveying his character’s simmering resentment and moral ambiguity. His performance underscores the quiet tragedies that orbit Ellis’s explosive downfall.
4. Juliet Stevenson as Bertha Ellis
Juliet Stevenson, the Olivier Award-winning icon of stage and screen (Truly, Madly, Deeply, 1990), plays Ruth’s mother, Bertha Ellis. Stevenson’s career is marked by roles exploring maternal complexity, such as in Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and The Village (2013–2014).
Stevenson brings gravitas to Bertha, a woman torn between protecting her daughter and grappling with her own complicity in Ruth’s choices. Her scenes with Boynton are emotionally charged, reflecting the generational scars of poverty and shame.
5. Mark Stanley as Antonia
Mark Stanley, known for his gritty roles in Game of Thrones (2011–2019) as Grenn and Happy Valley (2014–2023), plays Antonia, a shadowy figure from London’s underworld who becomes entangled in Ellis’s life. Stanley’s ability to embody brooding intensity, as seen in The Reckoning (2023), adds menace to the narrative.
Antonia’s interactions with Ellis expose the dark underbelly of 1950s London, with Stanley’s performance serving as a stark reminder of the era’s moral decay.
6. Bessie Carter as Carole Findlater
Bessie Carter, breakout star of Bridgerton (2020–present) as Prudence Featherington, takes on Carole Findlater, Ellis’s loyal yet conflicted friend. Carter’s knack for blending wit with vulnerability, showcased in The Dirty Duchess (2022), makes Carole a relatable anchor in Ellis’s chaotic world.
Carole’s moral dilemmas—caught between loyalty to Ruth and self-preservation—are portrayed with nuance, highlighting Carter’s ability to navigate emotional complexity.
7. Arthur Darvill as Melford Stevenson
Arthur Darvill, beloved for Doctor Who (2010–2017) as Rory Williams and Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2022) as Rip Hunter, plays Melford Stevenson, the barrister who prosecuted Ellis. Darvill’s transition from sci-fi hero to stern legal authority showcases his versatility.
Darvill’s portrayal of Stevenson’s unyielding pursuit of “justice” critiques the era’s patriarchal legal system, adding layers to the series’ examination of institutional bias.
8. Joe Armstrong as John Bickford
Joe Armstrong, known for Happy Valley (2014–2023) as Ashley Cowgill and Robin Hood (2006–2009) as Allan A Dale, plays John Bickford, the detective leading Ellis’s case. Armstrong’s rugged authenticity, seen in The English (2022), grounds the procedural elements of the story.
Bickford’s growing unease with the case’s ethical ambiguities mirrors Armstrong’s talent for portraying conflicted authority figures.
9. Laurie Davidson as Peter Rawlinson
Laurie Davidson, star of The Great (2020–2023) as Voltaire and Guilty Party (2021), plays Peter Rawlinson, a journalist fixated on sensationalizing Ellis’s story. Davidson’s charm and cunning, honed in Will (2017), make Rawlinson a compelling antihero.
Rawlinson’s exploitation of Ellis’s tragedy critiques media sensationalism, with Davidson balancing ambition and moral decay in his performance.
10. Amanda Drew as Bertha
Amanda Drew, EastEnders (2007–2017) alumna and stage veteran, plays Bertha, Ellis’s estranged sister. Drew’s work in The Night Manager (2016) and Roadkill (2020) informs her portrayal of familial resentment and quiet despair.
Bertha’s fraught relationship with Ruth adds emotional texture, with Drew embodying the silent suffering of women sidelined by history.
11. Jack Staddon as PC Alan Thompson
Jack Staddon, known for The Crown (2019) as young Prince Philip and Grantchester (2022), plays PC Alan Thompson, a young constable grappling with the case’s ethical weight. Staddon’s earnestness, seen in Ackley Bridge (2021), humanizes the often faceless machinery of justice.
Thompson’s journey from idealism to disillusionment reflects Staddon’s skill at portraying innocence lost.
12. Adam Lawrence as DI Peter Gill
Adam Lawrence, rising star of Line of Duty (2021) and Vigil (2021), plays DI Peter Gill, Bickford’s tenacious subordinate. Lawrence’s intensity, showcased in The Suspect (2022), adds urgency to the investigation.
Gill’s dogged pursuit of truth contrasts with the system’s flaws, with Lawrence embodying the tension between duty and morality.
With a cast this formidable, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is poised to be a landmark drama, blending historical reckoning with timeless themes. Don’t miss its premiere on February 17, 2025, on ITV, ITVX, and BritBox.
