Lucy Boynton Transforms Into Ruth Ellis, The Last U.K. Woman to Get Death Penalty, in First Image From ‘A Cruel Love’

K.J. Yossman
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“Bohemian Rhapsody” star Lucy Boynton smoulders as 1950s nightclub owner Ruth Ellis in a new image from upcoming ITV drama “A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.”

Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in Britain in 1955 after she was convicted of shooting dead her lover, racing driver David Blakely.

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Boynton is joined by Toby Jones (“Tetris”), Laurie Davidson (“Cats”) and Mark Stanley (“Trigger Point”) in the four-part series, which promises to expose the British obsession with class, sex and death.

“Set in 1955 in the glamorous and intoxicating world of London club-land, Ruth found huge acclaim, aged 28, as the capital’s youngest club manager,” reads the logline. “But her success soon unraveled as she became entwined in an abusive relationship with racing driver David Blakely. On trial for his murder, Ruth was condemned to hang by a system which judged her for far more than her crime.”

Joe Armstrong, Arthur Darvill, Nigel Havers, Toby Stephens and Juliet Stevenson round out the cast.

Kelly Jones (“The Long Call”) wrote the script, which is an adaptation of “A Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story” by Carol Ann Lee. It is produced by ITV Studios banner Silverprint Pictures (“Vera”).

“Lucy Boynton is absolutely mesmerizing as Ruth Ellis, pictured here, at the height of her success as London’s youngest club manager,” said Kate Bartlett, executive producer for Silverprint Pictures. “Aged 28, her ascendancy was brought to a sharp halt when she became enmeshed in an intoxicating love triangle which brought death and tragedy.”

ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill and drama commissioner Huw Kennair Jones commissioned the show.

Bartlett executive produces alongside Jones and Silverprint Pictures development director Antonia Gordon. Angie Daniell (“World On Fire”) produces. Lee Haven Jones (“Passenger”) directs all four episodes.

ITV Studios is handling international distribution.

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