There’s something magnetic about Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero. Maybe it’s the carefully woven atmosphere of tension and suspicion. Maybe it’s the elegant direction or the script that reinterprets a classic with a fresh perspective. But what truly elevates this adaptation is the way its lead actors embody characters who are almost impossible to pin down. Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Ella Lily Hyland spoke with us about stepping into the minds and hearts of Nevile and Audrey Strange—two characters who live in the emotional ambiguity Christie wrote so masterfully.
For both actors, Nevile and Audrey marked a departure from roles they’ve taken on in the past. Not just because of the period setting or the murder mystery framework, but because these characters refuse to be easily defined. They are shaped by perception, by what they hide as much as what they reveal. Naturally, our conversation turned to what sets these roles apart from others in their careers. And their answers pointed to the emotional complexity required by both parts.
As Nevile, Jackson-Cohen moves with an unsettling energy, a mix of self-assurance and something darker that always feels like it’s just beneath the surface. He’s undeniably charming, but there’s a tension that never quite disappears. Talking to him, it became clear that what makes the character so compelling is what he doesn’t show, what’s hidden behind his polished smile and controlled demeanor.
Hyland, on the other hand, portrays Audrey with a delicacy that cuts like a blade. Her performance is marked by introspection and a quiet sadness that never feels forced. When asked what it was like to bring to life someone who hovers between the ethereal and the unsettling, she shared how demanding—but ultimately rewarding—it was to create a woman who says so much without speaking. Audrey is a mystery unto herself, and Hyland ensures that mystery feels lived-in, real, and deeply human.
One thing both actors emphasized was the relationship between their characters—a dance weighted with history, tension, and unresolved emotion. The series doesn’t offer easy answers, and neither does the dynamic between Audrey and Nevile. And it’s in that gray area that Jackson-Cohen and Hyland truly shine.
MORE: ‘Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero’ Review: Nothing Is What It Seems
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Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero isn’t a story about heroes and villains. It’s a story about broken people trying—and failing—to find some form of redemption. And thanks to Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Ella Lily Hyland, we can’t look away.
Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero is streaming now on BritBox.
