The ITV crime drama Grace returned to screens on April 6, with lead actor John Simm hinting at some emotional moments in the opening episode. His character, Roy Grace, and his partner Cleo Morey, played by Zoë Tapper, face a heartbreaking storyline.
Season five kicks off with an episode titled Dead If You Don’t, where Grace takes a day off that quickly takes an unexpected turn. The story begins on a somber note as Grace and Cleo cope with the devastating loss of their baby.
In the previous season, Grace and Cleo were expecting a baby when Grace unexpectedly reunited with his long-lost wife, Sandy (played by Clare Calbraith), and discovered he had a son named Bruno. Tragically, Sandy died by suicide, leaving Grace in shock and mourning while also coming to terms with becoming a father to a young boy.
Advertisement In a conversation with media outlets including Express.co.uk, 54-year-old John Simm shared that the loss of the baby takes place off-screen, between seasons.
You realise quite quickly what’s happened and they’re also trying to deal with Bruno, who is now kind of living with him,
Simm said
They both have to try and bond with Bruno through tragic circumstances, what happened to Sandy etc in the previous series. So, it’s quite heightened but great to play. You need some dramatic tension, so it’s much better to play something like that. It was really lovely challenge, actually.
Tapper, 24, opened up about her character’s emotional journey this season, saying:
It was different coming into this series because you find out very early on she’s lost the baby, so that’s the first image you have of her and them is dealing with this devastating loss.
They were really poignant, moving scenes to film and interesting in another way, because for Cleo her work is so integral to who she is as a person.
She reflected on filming those moments, adding:
The star reflected on the emotional depth of the scenes, describing them as “really poignant, moving scenes to film.” Tapper also noted they were “interesting in another way, because for Cleo, her work is so integral to who she is as a person.” Exploring her character further, Tapper explained:
She’s on bereavement leave at the beginning of this series and Roy has had to go back to work, so they’re separated in their grief as well.
I felt very isolated. She felt very isolated to me as a character in the beginning place where you first see.
The actress added,
While the storyline tackles heavy themes, Tapper teased a season filled with intensity, hinting that her character would be pulled right into the heart of the drama. To authentically portray the role, Tapper conducted in-depth research on baby loss, calling the subject “very personal” for everyone who goes through it.
To prepare for the role, she turned to online resources and also spoke with a close friend who had faced the heartbreaking loss of a child late in pregnancy.
We don’t delve enormously into what happened, it would have been so, so traumatic for them.
Tapper spoke about the sensitive handling of the storyline, saying
She wrapped up by expressing the weight of portraying such a subject, adding:
Ultimately, I obviously wanted to do justice to something as profound and as devastating as that. So I had to find my truth within it.
Grace season 5 airs Sundays at 8pm on ITV.
Source: Express.co