A forbidden love worth fighting for

THE CAST OF TRESPASSES TALK TO YOLANTHE FAWEHINMI ABOUT THE NEW DRAMA SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE TROUBLES IN 1970S BELFAST

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DAMAGED: Gillian Anderson plays Cushla's alcoholic mother, Gina

WHEN Gillian Anderson first read Louise Kennedy's Trespasses, she was drawn in by how well the complex relationship between a mother and daughter was conveyed within the pages of the Irish writer's 2022 debut novel.

It's why the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress said yes to portraying Gina, the alcoholic mother of protagonist, Cushla, in the upcoming Channel 4 series of the same name.

"I loved the book so much. I don't think Gina was as present in the book as she is in the series, but by the time scripts started coming in, she had expanded, and I loved everything about how she was being written," reflects Gillian, 57.

"I have played an alcoholic before in theatre, but I've never really played a proper alcoholic in film or television. So I wanted to play with that."

The X-Files and Sex Education star continues: "Through the whole series and novel, I feel like Gina and Cushla flip back and forth with who is the parent at any given time.

"The level of care that is being required of Cushla for her mother, you wouldn't wish that on any child, because it really should be the other way around.

"And yet, when Gina can be the mother that she is meant to be, there's so much love. She just loves her fiercely in the same way that she is damaged fiercely."