Bring Her Back viewers have just made a huge realisation about the cast
Bring Her Back arrives in UK cinemas today (July 26) and chronicles the grim tale of two siblings who are placed with a foster mother still mourning her own late daughter.
Brother duo Danny and Michael Philippou are the masterminds behind the blockbuster, marking their second cinema outing following 2023's smash hit, Talk To Me. Their latest offering was penned simultaneously with their debut and exists within the same fictional world, though it doesn't function as a direct sequel.
The ensemble features acting legend Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water) leading the charge, alongside emerging Australian talent Sora Wong and Jonah Wren Phillips (Sweet Tooth), plus Billy Barratt (Kraven the Hunter).
Since the Philippou siblings hail from Australia, they habitually locate their productions Down Under and have their performers adopt the local dialect. Yet audiences are only now discovering that two of Bring Her Back's leading stars are actually British.
Sally, amongst the most recognisable faces in the line-up, originates from London, whilst Billy, who portrays Andy, is also a Londoner and happens to be the grandson of Welsh musical icon Shakin' Stevens, reports the Mirror.
Spectators have been utterly astounded by the duo's authentic Australian pronunciations and flocked to Reddit to express their astonishment after hearing their genuine voices during interviews.
"Holy s*** she's [Sally] not Australian? I'm Aussie and she reminded me of so many teachers, social service, councillor types I've known," wrote one viewer. Another commented: "I'm Aussie and her accent was flawless. Absolutely flawless."
A third viewer expressed their astonishment, saying: "Sally Hawkins I recognised eventually, never would have known if I hadn't seen her before though. Billy Barratt though, I didn't clock at all. We need to start airlifting their dialect coaches to set whenever a script calls for an Australian character."
Another cinema enthusiast chimed in with praise, remarking: "I knew Sally Hawkins was British, but when Billy Barratt spoke in interviews it completely shocked me. His accent was so good."
The film's performances have garnered widespread acclaim, particularly Sally's portrayal of foster mum Laura, leaving audiences deeply impressed. During a chat with directors Danny and Michael, Sally opened up about what attracted her to the role.
She enthused about the script, saying: "Your writing is so - it's just so real," and "It didn't feel like it was one genre or another, it just feels like really good storytelling."
Sally also praised the directors' approach, adding: "It's rare for filmmakers to be that collaborative and free, and I always felt very supported and also trusted with your baby."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Corrie's Suranne Jones plays Prime Minister with rap star for Netflix thriller
After gracing the Weatherfield cobbles and other hit shows, Suranne Jones stars in Netflix's political thriller Hostage, sharing the spotlight with a grime star. Bombshells, diplomacy and danger collide in Matt Charman's new thriller Hostage - and some grime fans might be surprised to see one of their favourite stars grace the screen. From the cobbles of Coronation Street to Doctor Foster, Vigil and Gentleman Jack – winning a TV Bafta on the way – Suranne Jones has cemented herself as one of Britain's best-loved acting talents. Now, the versatile star is taking on her most powerful role yet – quite literally – as the British Prime Minister in Hostage, Netflix 's explosive new political thriller from Oscar-nominated Matt Charman (Bridge Of Spies). In Hostage, Suranne plays Abigail Dalton, a politician plunged into chaos when her husband, Dr Alex Anderson, is kidnapped. And she made sure she was thoroughly prepared and did her homework. 'I don't think I'm allowed to say [who], but I did speak to three really high-up women from different parties,' Suranne, 46, says. 'I read their books and I interviewed them, and that was very exciting.' That attention to detail paid off. Abigail isn't just a PM fighting for her family – she's a woman balancing power and vulnerability. Portraying the latter involved getting close to her co-star and on-screen husband, Ashley Thomas, aka grime star Bashy. 'We did chemistry tests, and when he came in, it was just like, 'Oh, you're intriguing, handsome, lovely, smart, intelligent,'' Suranne remembers. 'And then we met our daughter (Isobel Akuwudike), who is also brilliant. It was her first job.' Ashley also prepared thoroughly to portray medic Alex. He consulted real-life doctors, but it was the emotional weight of Alex's kidnapping that hit the hardest. 'That was tough. Putting yourself in those places is heavy – especially as Alex is a father,' says Ashley. 'The environment I've come from, I've witnessed and experienced a lot of trauma, so there were things I was able to pull from.' While Abigail grapples with domestic turmoil, things aren't calm across the Channel either. French President Vivienne Toussaint – played by French-American actress Julie Delpy – is battling her own political scandal after being blackmailed. During a state visit to the UK, Vivienne is forced to work with Abigail to expose a common enemy, despite their vastly different political backgrounds. 'She's quite conflicted, which I liked,' Julie, 55, says. 'She is someone who started out with ideals but had to give up part of what she believes in to get access to power.' Vivienne is dangerous and captivating – a role that seemed made for Julie, who has spent her career tackling complex characters. 'She might not be a very good person, but she's more than just a bad guy,' Julie adds. But beneath her icy exterior lies a secret: an age-gap relationship that threatens everything. 'A May-September relationship these days isn't a big deal – but this is a little darker and more complicated than that. A little more destructive,' Julie explains. 'Her husband is key in her ascent to power, so to put herself in this situation and put everything at risk is kamikaze.' Hostage shows Vivienne's struggle to keep her Achilles' heel hidden. 'She's good at handling situations and power, but her weakness is her hidden side,' Julie says. 'She's romantically involved with someone she shouldn't be and that's a huge weakness for a politician – especially a woman.' Before Sunrise actress Julie embraced the opportunity to portray someone morally grey. 'I loved the idea of playing someone very different from me,' she says. 'She's not the most likeable of characters, but that's fine with me. If they are unlikeable as a person, you find a way to approach them as a human being. When I played a Nazi character, she was obviously repulsive, but then you have to think that she sees it differently.' Despite Vivienne's complicated personality, Julie found herself intrigued by her. 'It was interesting to see someone that seems so rational and together, but behind the mask, her life is a mess,' she says. 'I'm the opposite – I look messy and crazy, but I would never do what she does!' And when it comes to politics? 'I'm not interested at all [in politics] because of the compromises you would have to make. I don't even do that in the movie business, and you see a lot of people give up their morals to succeed. I'm not able to do that. I'm just not that kind of person.' Julie's first day of filming for Hostage set the tone that the tense series demanded. 'I'm always nervous, and not just on the first day,' she admits. 'My first day on Hostage was a kissing scene – so it was even more stressful than usual. I didn't know this person so I had to switch off my mind a little.' If that wasn't enough, the role involved linguistic hurdles, too. Julie had to learn the more official, formal speeches in English. 'Those are hard enough in your own language, but to do them as a non-native speaker was tough,' she says. Luckily, the tension on screen was offset by the real-life camaraderie with her castmates – particularly Suranne. 'She's a lovely person and a great actress,' Julie says. 'Sometimes, it takes a little time to find your way with certain people, but with Suranne it was immediate. I like communication to be quick and fast and clear, I have no time for ego and she's like that as well. So it made it very easy.' The friendly feelings appear to be mutual. Suranne revealed during a recent appearance on the Table Manners podcast, 'There were a lot of unrepeatable stories, told in the make-up trailer. Julie would be talking in the corner, and then everyone would go quiet!'
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
The 20 most irritating habits that make you the worst TV companion
The 20 most irritating habits that make you the worst TV companion A new study of 2,000 Brits has found the top 20 most annoying habits for people to have while watching TV If you've ever found yourself at your wit's end as someone chats away to you or hogs the remote while you're watching TV, you're definitely not the only one. A study of 2,000 British adults has revealed the country's most irritating TV viewing behaviours. These included people who ask constant questions throughout a show, perpetually flicking between channels, and accidentally revealing crucial plot twists. The research was commissioned by M&M'S to mark the debut of its "It's More Fun Together" campaign. It discovered that 24 per cent of Britons become frustrated when the person they're watching TV with munches their snacks too noisily, while another 21 per cent grow irritated with people who keep the volume too low. Sam Thompson and Scarlett Moffatt host M&M'S Couch Confessions pop up at Battersea Power Station (Image: PinPep) However, it appears many of us are guilty of doing the same. A quarter of adults acknowledged they're dreadful viewing partners, owning up to continuously bombarding others with questions during programmes. For nearly half, asking its mainly about understanding what is happening but 31 per cent confessed they simply weren't concentrating on what was happening. Despite these annoying habits, watching television together continues to be a strong way of bonding. A third (33 per cent) of those polled said an evening in front of the telly with mates is just as enjoyable as doing an activity together. To honour these peculiar habits, MandM'S launched a "Couch Confessions" pop-up experience in London, featuring telly-obsessed celebrities Sam Thompson and Scarlett Moffatt. Reality TV favourite Scarlett Moffatt revealed: "TV nights at home are my love language, chaotic, full of theme-tune singalongs and subtitle debates." She continued: "But hunkering down on the couch with Scott and Jude is what makes it so special. "I love the little quirks that turn ordinary nights into unforgettable family moments, because watching together is always more fun, even if Jude is the remote-control-king nowadays." The study also revealed what Britons believe would enhance their television-viewing experiences. A fifth (20 per cent) expressed a desire for snack bowls that perfectly distribute portions amongst viewers, whilst 19 per cent fantasised about a family-sized footstool allowing everyone to elevate their feet. Meanwhile, 15 per cent wished there was a device that automatically set the television to the 'perfect' volume. Guests at the M&M'S pop-up encountered some of these innovations directly, alongside treasure hunts for TV treats. The experience also celebrated the nation's preferred methods of communal television viewing, featuring themed spaces modelled on the contemporary British lounge. Regarding ideal TV viewing partners, Britons would most relish settling in with David Attenborough, Ant and Dec, and Olivia Colman. TV Personality and Radio Host, Sam Thompson, added: "I'm all about turning TV nights into a proper event with bean bags, onesies, volume up and a stash of snacks. Article continues below "It's my favourite time to just hang out with mates, even if it takes us an hour to agree on what to watch and someone always falls asleep halfway through." Brits shared their weird and wonderful TV rituals (Image: PinPep) TOP ANNOYING TELLY HABITS BRITS ADMIT TO:
Time Out
3 hours ago
- Time Out
Just in: These two Australian bars were named among the world's best by Time Out
Thirsty? You've come to the right place. Time Out is known for recommending the best places to go out around the world, and that absolutely includes must-visit bars. Much like our restaurant scene, Australia is home to some of the grooviest, grungiest and downright glorious watering holes this world has ever seen. Case in point: Time Out has just dropped its 2025 roundup of the best bars in the world – and two Aussie standouts made the cut. To curate our list of the world's finest, funkiest and most fantastic bars, we asked Time Out's international network of writers and editors to share their number one spot for a drink in their city. In the 2025 ranking, two Australian bars made their mark among just 18 inclusions. Obviously, Melbourne's ever-evolving bar scene featured on the list, with the handsome Apollo Inn landing in 11th place. Tucked inside a 1920s Neo-Renaissance building, this cosy, dimly-lit cocoon is perfect for old-world cocktail classics and sophisticated snacks. Apollo Inn's refreshing Picon Bière is a one-way ticket to summer in France, but you can also never go wrong with the Gibson Martini. Time Out Melbourne contributor Lauren Dinse says, 'Your best bet for getting a table at this perennially popular 30-seater is to clock off early from work and pop in at around 4pm. Stay as long as you like; any night of the week, you'll be made very welcome.' Over in Sydney, Pleasure Club – a purple-hued, disco ball-lit basement bar where hedonism is not only welcome, but encouraged – landed in 16th on the world's best bars list. Having opened in 2024, this late-night live-music bar was the first Newtown venue to be granted a 4am licence in more than 100 years. Time Out Sydney Editor, Avril Treasure, says the drinks are weird, wacky and tinged with nostalgia – think Cherry Ripe-inspired cocktails and even Vegemite Martinis. There's a reason Pleasure Club won Best Cocktail Bar at Time Out Sydney ' s Food and Drink Awards 2025 – head down and see why it lives up to the name. You can read Time Out's list of the world's best bars here. 🍹 The best bars in Australia right now 🥐
