Reposted from The Guardian
Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominated actor Marianne Jean–Baptiste is joining the second series of hit ITV drama Broadchurch.
Jean-Baptiste, who starred in CBS television series Without a Trace, Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies, The Murder of Stephen Lawrence and this year's remake of the film RoboCop, is to play a role written especially for her by Broadchurch writer and creator Chris Chibnall.
Earlier this month ITV revealed that Broadchurch, which picked up three Bafta television awards at the weekend, will also feature British actor Charlotte Rampling.
Chibnall said: "We're over the moon to have wooed Marianne back from Los Angeles to join us in Broadchurch. Marianne is one of Britain's finest actresses, so it's an honour and a coup for us. It's a role written specifically for her and I would've wept for months if she'd turned us down. Luckily she didn't and her character is going to make an indelible impact on the world of Broadchurch."
Alongside the original cast – which includes Olivia Colman, David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker – will be James D'Arcy, who appeared with Anthony Hopkins in the film Hitchcock. D'Arcy's other credits include Cloud Atlas, The Making of a Lady and US drama Those Who Kill.
Little Dorrit and Torchwood actor Eve Myles will also play what ITV says is a "central role" in Broadchurch, while Blandings and Bad Education's Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also joining the cast.
The ITV director of drama, Steve November, said: "We're delighted with the stellar cast assembled for the new series of Broadchurch. There's a real sense of heightened anticipation about what's to come, although we're desperate to protect the secrets of Broadchurch to avoid spoiling what happens next for the viewers."
Chibnall has also confirmed the new series will return to the Dorset and North Somerset locations where the first series was filmed.
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