If you're a big BritDram fan like all of us in the WGBH Drama Club, you've probably found yourself popping over to IMDb to figure out just where you've seen that familiar face every time you start a new show. Silk, one of our favorite new WGBH Passport picks, is no exception. Fear not: we did the Googling so you don't have to.
Silk is an entertainingly catty courtroom drama that follows the competitive angst between ambitious legal minds at a small English law firm. Two protagonists fight to earn appointment as Queen's Counsel, a high level merit-based honor which is informally known as taking silk (hey, that's the name of the show!). These lawyers (er, barristers) face enormous pressure to perform, tangled ethical dilemmas, and interpersonal drama of the highest order. Thankfully, the actors throughout are up to the challenge, which should come as no surprise given their storied careers...
Left to Right: Maxine Peake, Rupert Penry-Jones, Alex Jennings, Phil Davis, and John Macmillan
Maxine Peake
Peake plays the main character on Silk, Martha Costello, but you also may recognize her from her turn in Hamlet in 2015, Elaine Mason in The Theory of Everything, and Doll Tearsheet in The Hollow Crown.
Rupert Penry-Jones
Martha's foil on Silk, Penry-Jones will definitely be a familiar face for those of you who tear through all of our WGBH Passport offerings: he also stars in the mystery show Whitechapel. Beyond our WGBH favorite, Penry-Jones has also appeared as Captain Wentworth in Persuasion, St. John Rivers in Jane Eyre, and even on an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot — practically a Jeopardy! column's-worth of roles by famous female English authors.
Alex Jennings
Here's a big one: Jennings plays the head of Shoe Lane Chambers, but he's also been in TWO recent MASTERPIECE shows. Unforgotten season three sees him portray Tim Finch, and Victoria features him as King Leopold. You might also recognize him from The Crown where he played David, Duke of Windsor, or from Whitechapel, like many others on this list,
Phil Davis
Let's be honest: you definitely know Phil Davis' face. He's one of the other Whitechapel alums on the list, and he's also been in WGBH favorites Poldark, Sherlock, New Tricks, Death in Paradise, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford, Midsomer Murders, Marple, Bleak House, and many many more.
John Macmillan
John Macmillan plays a clerk on Silk, but you've seen him in a wide range of different roles. He's best known for his work in the British comedy series Chewing Gum, but like most UK actors has done Shakespeare (Edmund in King Lear) and an episode of Midsomer Murders. American audiences may also recognize him from Maleficent.
Left to Right: Tom Hughes, Natalie Dormer, Indira Varma, Pip Torrens, and Shaun Evans
Tom Hughes
If you're a big of a fan of Victoria, you'll have immediately recognized Tom Hughes despite the lack of his Albert mustache. Hughes is also known for his work in period dramas such as The Hollow Crown, and films like Cemetery Junction and About Time.
Natalie Dormer
Do you love period dramas, fantasy, or Hollywood blockbusters? No matter what, you're in luck: Dormer's filmography has something for you. You might recognize Dormer from her turn as Anne Boleyn on The Tudors, 2018's Picnic at Hanging Rock, or as Margaery Tyrell on Game of Thrones. Looking for mystery? She played Irene Adler on Elementary. Love a blockbuster? You'll have seen her in the Hunger Games films or Captain America: The First Avenger.
Indira Varma
Indira Varma's television credits can only be described as epic, with roles in two HBO juggernauts (Game of Thrones and Rome) in addition to drama favorites Luther and The Canterbury Tales. Movie fans might also recognize her from Bride & Prejudice and Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Pip Torrens
Buckle up, because Pip Torrens is in a lot of shows. WGBH drama fans will, of course, recognize him as George's Uncle Cary on Poldark and Sir Edward Kendall on Grantchester, but he's also been in Fleming, The Hollow Crown, The Crown, Versailles, Star Wars Episode VII, The Danish Girl, The Iron Lady, War Horse, Easy Virtue, 2005 Pride & Prejudice, and has had guest spots on more shows than we can even begin to list here.
Shaun Evans
Frequent Masterpiece viewers will recognize Shaun Evans from his turn as young Endeavour Morse on Endeavour. You might also have seen him in the films Cashback and Being Julia, or on TV in Teachers, The Virgin Queen, or... Whitechapel (yes, another one).
So there you have it: some of the places you might have seen your favorite Silk stars before. Check out Silk on WGBH Passport today!
