Laura Donnelly leads ITV's new thriller The Dark, a six-part series that distinguishes itself from the saturated serial killer detective genre by prioritizing psychological depth and the emotional toll on victims' families over graphic violence. Donnelly plays DI Monica Kennedy, an ordinary woman navigating an extraordinary crime spree in Scotland.
A Detective Without the Usual Baggage
Donnelly, speaking to Metro, emphasized that Monica is not the typical damaged detective. 'I was really interested because Monica wasn't introduced as the typical damaged, dysfunctional detective. There was so much more subtlety to her than that,' she said. Instead, the character is portrayed as a real person doing a difficult job, avoiding the Sherlock Holmes-style genius trope.
Focus on Grief and Community Impact
The series unfolds through the grief of Beth, a family member affected by the crimes, exploring how the investigation impacts her marriage and family. 'Throughout the series we keep returning to the emotional reality of the families left behind. That's something I don't think we often get to explore because these shows usually focus much more on the violence and gore,' Donnelly explained. The show resists gratuitous depictions, concentrating on psychology and relationships within the community.
Motherhood as a Subtle Layer
Monica is a mother to a young daughter, but Donnelly deliberately avoided making motherhood the defining aspect. 'One of the things I loved was that she's a mother, but her work-life balance doesn't define her in the way it so often does with female characters,' she said. 'I'm really tired of answering questions like, "How do you balance your career with looking after your children?" People never ask men that.' Monica's relationship with her own mother adds complexity, as she needs her but resents that dependence.
Scotland's Landscape as a Character
Filming in Scotland's rugged terrain was a major draw for Donnelly. 'The weather creates this unsettling feeling, but at the same time there's incredible beauty. That juxtaposition between the horror of the crimes and the landscape was something our director really wanted to capture,' she noted. The challenging conditions—long hours in cold, wet darkness—added to the realism.
Behind the Scenes
The Dark is directed by Gilles Bannier and written by Matt Hartley, Lena Rae, and Nessah Muthy. Executive producers include Hartley, Ben Stephenson, Preethi Mavahalli, Luke Woellhaf, and Fern McCauley. The cast also features Mark Rowley and Helen Baxendale. The series airs on ITV1 and ITVX in six 60-minute episodes.
Aiming for Empathy
Donnelly hopes viewers find the series thrilling and creepy, but ultimately connect with the human side. 'I hope what stays with them is the human side of the story. Ultimately, I think that's the whole point of storytelling: empathy. Monica reminds people throughout the series that you never really know what someone has been through or why they become vulnerable. I hope that's something audiences connect with too.'
