How Kat Donovan Is Completely different in Netflix Harlan Coben Sequence

Imagine it or not, Rosalind Eleazar is used to taking part in wilder characters than Detective Kat Donovan in Netflix‘s Lacking You.

Nevertheless it didn’t cease the shoot from getting fairly intense.

The newest within the streamer’s slate of Harlan Coben variations, Lacking You follows the story of Gradual Horses star Eleazar as a detective specializing in Lacking Individuals.

Eleven years in the past, her fiancé Josh (performed by Ashley Walters), the love of her life, vanished and not using a hint. Now, swiping profiles on a courting app, she sees his face, and her world threatens to blow up over again. The expertise forces her to dive again into the thriller surrounding the homicide of her father (Lenny Henry) and uncover long-buried secrets and techniques from her previous. Coben mentioned on a London panel the present has “probably the most emotional ending that I’ve skilled,” including that he “truly cried.”

With twists and turns at each potential level, the brand new present, tailored by Victoria Asare-Archer, is a trip for each its characters and viewers. The five-part collection (which hit Netflix globally on Jan. 1) follows Idiot Me As soon as, one other adaptation of the creator’s novels that includes Michelle Keegan which went on to grow to be the streaming big’s most-watched TV present of 2024 and its eighth hottest program of all time.

Now, it’s Eleazar’s flip. Alongside the British star is the dream staff of Walters, Henry, Richard Armitage, Jessica Plummer, Matt Willis and James Nesbitt. Beneath, the actress has a spoiler-free dialog with The Hollywood Reporter in regards to the common enchantment of Coben’s writing, setting the present within the U.Ok. and the fact of an unpredictable reception: “I don’t know what folks will assume. I’m so near the mission, It’s like eradicating a chunk of your pores and skin.”

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Nicely, this actually is an emotional rollercoaster for Kat.

She doesn’t have a lot time to assume or breathe, as a result of she’s bombarded with revelation after revelation after revelation. In a traditional world, you’d ask her to take a break, go discuss to somebody about it, however that’s not going to occur within the Harlan Coben world! She’s resilient, she picks herself up, and she or he doesn’t keep in a spot of ache for too lengthy. She’s a survivor and she or he desires to get solutions. She’s been by way of a whole lot of trauma and I feel you all the time should be very delicate whenever you tackle characters which were by way of actual life experiences.

How did you land the lead position in Lacking You?

I used to be requested to audition for it in September of 2023, I feel it was August or September. They usually solely had one episode out there [to read] so I shortly learn the guide and I liked the guide. I liked Kat within the guide, I feel she’s barely totally different within the guide to the collection. I feel she’s barely extra reserved within the guide. The staff needed her to be extra front-footed within the present. After which, I don’t know once I acquired the half — it will have been October — after which we shot in January.

Have been you a fan of Harlan Coben earlier than you had been requested to audition?

I liked his books. I’d watched a few his collection, and in addition the French movie known as Inform No One [2006]. I feel that was truly my first introduction to him.

Did you watch Idiot Me As soon as on Netflix?

Yeah. It’s simply so bingeable, isn’t it? [Coben’s so] extraordinary with how he places collectively twists and turns. After I first learn, Lacking You, once I learn the tip, I couldn’t imagine that that’s the place the story was going. I used to be so positive it was one thing else. And I actually don’t know who does that higher than him, you realize?

It’s excellent January TV materials. Idiot Me As soon as was the most-watched collection on Netflix globally final yr. Is {that a} daunting thought with the discharge of your collection?

I feel it’s extra thrilling than it’s daunting, as a result of if it has a following and other people love the exhibits, if it’s phrase of mouth, and other people watch it and go, “Yeah, let’s watch Lacking You,” then that’s actually thrilling. However put it this manner: it doesn’t shock me that Idiot Me As soon as was one of the vital watched exhibits of all time on Netflix. I feel it’s actually intelligent how [Harlan] does it.

It’s additionally been actually fascinating to see how the writers have taken these U.S.-set tales and put them within the U.Ok. It adjustments issues somewhat, don’t you assume?

I do assume it adjustments issues. I imply, he’s made exhibits which might be set in France. He was saying earlier that he’s acquired one arising in Argentina — he’s acquired [projects] in about six totally different international locations. And I believed, what’s it about these exhibits that you would choose them up and put them wherever? And I feel he actually does write in a common manner. As a result of once I learn the guide, I believed, “Okay, that is actually, actually totally different.” It’s not supposedly set wherever, however we filmed in Manchester, [England]. And also you go, how is that this going to translate? However in some way they only all the time do and so they work.

And these Coben novels aren’t for the faint-hearted…

Utterly. It was a very intense shoot and significantly with this story. Harlan and I we had been speaking earlier and it truly is about one particular person. It follows [Kat] very, very carefully, whereas a number of the different Harlan exhibits have had totally different subplots which might be all interwoven. That is fairly on the nostril, on the top, to do with Kat’s private journey. There’s so many occasions that happen in a brief period of time day-after-day. There was a shock, a revelation, there was an occasion. However I like it. I desire depth to the other of depth.

Is Harlan concerned within the shoot or writing course of?

He’s concerned. I might ask him no matter I needed. I primarily spoke to [executive producer and series writer Victoria [Asare-Archer], who tailored the collection, however he’s concerned. He’s additionally an government producer, so he’s proper within the thick of it with decision-making and [saying] what he desires and what he doesn’t need.

Is Kat very totally different to different characters you’ve performed earlier than?

I feel she is. The entire characters that I’ve performed are totally different. She’s a bit extra, let’s say, “regular,” quote-unquote, than I’ve ever performed earlier than. I are inclined to play characters who’re a bit extra wild and excessive of their being, of their vitality. So she’s in all probability about as near regular or run-of-the-mill [compared to what] I’ve performed, which, once more, is fascinating as a result of I hadn’t actually executed that. In my earlier work I used to be taking part in a drug addict or, I don’t know. There’s a great deal of examples. This was barely extra straight down the road, which is one more reason why I needed to do it. I need each job that I do to really feel totally different to me and problem me. And I can’t consider something worse than taking part in the identical character time and again. And you realize, the possibilities are that after this present, I in all probability will likely be requested, ‘Do you need to hear [about] the detective position?’ [Laughs.] It’s type of how issues work in our business.

And the way do you assume audiences will react to Lacking You?

It’s onerous to foretell. I feel I’m so near the mission that I even discover it onerous summing her up, or summing up the collection, as a result of it’s so near me. It’s like eradicating a chunk of your pores and skin. Or if somebody mentioned, “Oh, what’s your persona?” I don’t know what my persona is. Like, ask my mum. So I don’t know what folks will consider it. I hope that they are going to be entertained, and I hope they actually go on Kat’s journey together with her and really feel for her.

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Lacking You is now streaming on Netflix.