Latest news with #ACruelLove:TheRuthEllisStory
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The incredible true-crime story that changed UK legal history
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story ★★★½ 'I am guilty; I'm a little confused.' So spoke Ruth Ellis, a 28-year-old Welsh-born nightclub hostess after firing five bullets into her lover, racing driver David Blakely, one Easter Sunday evening in 1955 London. Blakely's death spurred a notorious chapter in UK legal history and won Ellis enduring fame as the last woman to be hung in Britain. Her execution brought to the boil swelling opposition to capital punishment (permanently abolished for murder in 1969) and played a part in the introduction of the 'diminished responsibility' defence, allowing the verdict of manslaughter. It also shone a light on the alarmingly swift process to convict Ellis and the treatment of women, particularly those in the lower classes. It's the latter that A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, ITV's magnetic, if occasionally hollow, four-part true-crime drama, magnifies with swish, hypnotic eloquence. Loading Adapted from Carol Ann Lee's biography, A Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story, the series is so beautifully shot that the lighting, set and costume hues and poetic positioning of faces and body turn every frame into an Edward Hopper painting. The camera is either pulled back for beautiful scene compositions (the watery natural light in Ellis' prison cell, the smoke-fugged velvet-curtained nightclub where she hosted men, the ordered establishment of the wood-panelled courtroom with a male-only jury), or extraordinarily close-up. The hair's breadth's away lens is why this series belongs to actor Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody). She plays Ellis, a tiny red-lipsticked platinum blonde and single mother-of-two, with a steely and compelling delicacy. There are times watching this series when I searched her face, its pores millimetres from the camera, for any glimmer of why Ellis refused, initially, to defend herself after her arrest. Boynton's facial movements are minute yet intensely perceptible, revealing inner turmoil and Ellis' long-honed resolve to endure lesser treatment. It's clear, if a little drawn out over the series' 160-minutes, that Blakely (Laurie Davidson), who meets Ellis at the Little Club in Knightsbridge which she managed, is a piece of work. Depicted as a privileged, hard-drinking and violent manipulator, his chaotic presence, which included repeated beatings, lasted two years before Ellis shot him. It's clear why but the people who could have helped mitigate her actions, and sentence, are everywhere – and equally at fault.
The Age
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
The incredible true-crime story that changed UK legal history
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story ★★★½ 'I am guilty; I'm a little confused.' So spoke Ruth Ellis, a 28-year-old Welsh-born nightclub hostess after firing five bullets into her lover, racing driver David Blakely, one Easter Sunday evening in 1955 London. Blakely's death spurred a notorious chapter in UK legal history and won Ellis enduring fame as the last woman to be hung in Britain. Her execution brought to the boil swelling opposition to capital punishment (permanently abolished for murder in 1969) and played a part in the introduction of the 'diminished responsibility' defence, allowing the verdict of manslaughter. It also shone a light on the alarmingly swift process to convict Ellis and the treatment of women, particularly those in the lower classes. It's the latter that A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, ITV's magnetic, if occasionally hollow, four-part true-crime drama, magnifies with swish, hypnotic eloquence. Loading Adapted from Carol Ann Lee's biography, A Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story, the series is so beautifully shot that the lighting, set and costume hues and poetic positioning of faces and body turn every frame into an Edward Hopper painting. The camera is either pulled back for beautiful scene compositions (the watery natural light in Ellis' prison cell, the smoke-fugged velvet-curtained nightclub where she hosted men, the ordered establishment of the wood-panelled courtroom with a male-only jury), or extraordinarily close-up. The hair's breadth's away lens is why this series belongs to actor Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody). She plays Ellis, a tiny red-lipsticked platinum blonde and single mother-of-two, with a steely and compelling delicacy. There are times watching this series when I searched her face, its pores millimetres from the camera, for any glimmer of why Ellis refused, initially, to defend herself after her arrest. Boynton's facial movements are minute yet intensely perceptible, revealing inner turmoil and Ellis' long-honed resolve to endure lesser treatment. It's clear, if a little drawn out over the series' 160-minutes, that Blakely (Laurie Davidson), who meets Ellis at the Little Club in Knightsbridge which she managed, is a piece of work. Depicted as a privileged, hard-drinking and violent manipulator, his chaotic presence, which included repeated beatings, lasted two years before Ellis shot him. It's clear why but the people who could have helped mitigate her actions, and sentence, are everywhere – and equally at fault.
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Period drama with 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating is 'all you'd ever want'
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is a true crime drama that was released on ITVX earlier this year and has recently made its way to ITV's streaming service ITVX The ITV miniseries set in the 1950s has captured viewers' attention, with many labelling it a 'must-watch'. The show dives into the riveting true-to-life saga of Ruth Ellis—a tale dramatised over four compelling episodes in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. The historical drama stars Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis, depicting her downfall as the fateful final woman to meet her end by hanging in Britain. Ruth Ellis was a Welsh nightclub hostess before she became infamous for the murder of her ex-lover, sealing her fate as the last woman to face capital punishment in the UK. On a fateful Easter Sunday in 1955, Ellis coldly shot David Blakely outside a Hampstead pub. Her actions swiftly led to her arrest. Her trial resulted in a conviction for wilful and premeditated murder, and she faced not merely a term behind bars but the gallows. July 13th marked her execution at Holloway Prison, ending an era of such sentences, reports the Express. Giving their thumbs-up to the series, a Rotten Tomatoes critic said: "Brilliantly made limited series! Acting is phenomenal. A must-watch." Another viewer hinted at potential awards acclaim, suggesting the drama was "BAFTA stuff". One review reads: "Just watch this, as it's BAFTA stuff, and it will get both Lucy and Toby Jones more nominations for awards, plus maybe Ruth's case will be reviewed and she'll be finally pardoned." Starring alongside Boynton is Toby Jones, a renowned British film star, who portrays John Bickford, the solicitor instrumental in aiding Ellis during her trial. The Times praised Jones, stating that the 58 year old actor should take pride in his "quietly haunting performance". Meanwhile, others have commented that watching him on screen is always time well spent. A critic for the London Evening Standard said: "Ruth was betrayed by a system that wanted to punish her for daring to be different. At least this show gives her something approaching justice, even if it was denied her in real life." This aspect of Ellis' story is particularly compelling, as her untimely death sparked widespread controversy throughout the justice system and garnered heavy criticism from the press. In fact, her execution played a significant role in galvanizing support for the abolition of the death penalty, with the last execution of a male taking place in 1964. Despite some viewers criticizing the series for its handling of taboo subjects and historical accuracy, as well as its portrayal of real-life individuals, one review summarized: "First off, it's good. Lucy does well but is held back by poor dialogue and writing. The basic story is simple..." A viewer offered a poignant critique, saying: "Perhaps the short series is meant to reflect the swiftness of Ruth's ending, but I must admit I would have appreciated a little more of a glimpse into society's response to Ruth's hanging." For those on the hunt for their next series obsession, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story can be streamed at no cost on ITVX right now.
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
One Day star among actors reading from International Booker Prize shortlist
One Day star Ambika Mod and The Tick actor Peter Serafinowicz are among the famous faces selected to bring their 'hugely gratifying' readings of the International Booker Prize shortlist to a series of films. Booker, which has been releasing the films with well-known actors for its two annual prizes since 2022, believes the extract readings encourage more people to get interested in the prestigious book awards, especially on social media. The 2025 line-up also includes Bohemian Rhapsody and A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story actress Lucy Boynton, Stath Lets Flats actor Jamie Demetriou, Black Doves actor Omari Douglas, and Slow Horses actress Rosalind Eleazar. Mod, who was born in Hertfordshire to Indian parents, read a part of Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, a book about the lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Serafinowicz, who recently appeared as a love interest in Amandaland and presents the Netflix psychological game show Million Dollar Secret, recites from French author Anne Serre's A Leopard-Skin Hat about friendship and mental health. Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, said: 'It's hugely gratifying to see this come to fruition. 'Since we started making these 'film trailers for books' three years ago they have been seen over a hundred million times, and their release has become one of the most anticipated moments of our prizes calendar. 'We're hugely grateful to the incredibly talented people we've been lucky enough to work with on these short films, including our director for this year's International Booker Prize shortlist films, Roxy Rezvany. 'We hope that as well as inspiring more readers to pick up the books, they showcase the best contemporary fiction in translation for the award-winning screenwriters and directors of tomorrow.' The films are part of a tradition of Booker Prizes adaptations, after more than 70 longlisted or shortlisted books have been filmed for the big and small screen, including Sir Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains Of The Day, Sally Rooney's Normal People and Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient. The six shorts were directed by Roxy Rezvany, who has been Bifa-nominated for domestic abuse short Honesty, and released the opera-documentary Photo Booth (2022) about penguins, Palestine, and queer themes. Previous performers include London-born singer Dua Lipa, Poldark star Eleanor Tomlinson, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, Homeland actor David Harewood, Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh, Irish comedian Aisling Bea, and Outlander actor Tobias Menzies. Rezvany said: 'All the books hold such vibrant worlds, so the approach was simply to lean into what excited us about the writing. 'It was a privilege to bring the work of all the nominated writers to life in some small way through these films.' Boynton read On The Calculation Of Volume I, a story of waking up on the same day every day, by Solvej Balle, and Douglas recited English Channel migrants fiction Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix. Eleazar read from Under The Eye Of The Big Bird, speculative fiction about humans nearly dying out, by Hiromi Kawakami and Demetriou took Perfection, focused on a couple feeling trapped in a middle class existence, by Vincenzo Latronico. The 2025 International Booker Prize winner, who will receive £50,000 to share with their translator, will be announced at the Tate Modern, London, on May 20.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ITV's new "rags to riches" royal drama confirms Natalie Dormer in key role
ITV's new royal drama The Lady has confirmed the casting of Natalie Dormer in a key role. The "rags to riches" tale follows the real-life story of Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York's former royal dresser who was later convicted of murdering her fiancé. It has now been confirmed that Game of Thrones' Dormer will portray Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, opposite How To Have Sex's Mia McKenna-Bruce as Andrews. Related: Best streaming services Outlander's Ed Speleers will play Thomas Cressman, the man whom she falls in love with and eventually murders. Other stars include Life on Mars' Philip Glenister, Outnumbered's Claire Skinner, Gavin & Stacey's Laura Aikman, Minx's Ophelia Lovibond, Happy Valley's Mark Stanley, Litvinenko's Daniel Ryan and Skins' Sean Teale. The Lady "charts the rise and fall" of Andrews, "whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder", according to the synopsis. Related: The synopsis continues: "Once a young working-class girl, Jane answered an advertisement in a magazine and to the astonishment of her friends and family, became the Duchess of York's dresser at Buckingham Palace. "Moving amongst the highest social circles in Britain, Jane managed to secure a place in the upper-classes, only to lose her job with the Duchess after nine years of service. "Still reeling from her fall from grace, Jane went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and fell deeply in love. Soon cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences." Related: The four-part series has been written by Humans' Debbie O'Malley and directed by A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story's Lee Haven Jones. Speaking previously of the project, O'Malley noted that behind the headlines of Andrews' 2001 conviction "lay a much more complex, painful and thought-provoking story", namely "an exploration of female ambition and human frailty and a devastating chain of events that ended in the taking of a man's life". "And this story, tied up with our national preoccupation with class and our ongoing obsession with the Royal family, feels every bit as relevant now as it did twenty years ago," she added. The Lady will air on ITV. You Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
