Rising star Leah McNamara chatted to Her.ie about landing the lead role on the series of the summer ‘Then You Run’.
Then You Run is set to become the TV series everyone is obsessed with this summer. We all fell head over heels in love with Normal People, couldn’t stop talking about Succession, and were glued to every episode of Queen Charlotte, but leave the Friends re-watch on hold for now because this is one show you can’t miss.
Then You Run, based on the book You by Zoran Drvenkar, is adapted for the screen by Ben Chanan. The series follows a close-knit group of rebellious London teenagers on a getaway in Rotterdam – but after the estranged father of Tara (Leah McNamara) is discovered dead, they find themselves on the run across Europe with three kilos of heroin and a host of deadly criminals snapping at their heels.
The gang is being hunted by Tara’s uncle Reagan (Richard Coyle) a notorious gangster haunted by his past who will stop at nothing to track down his missing cache of drugs. However, Reagan isn’t the only person they should worry about – because all the while a terrifying and mythical serial killer known only as ‘The Traveller’ draws closer on a collision course with them all.
Speaking about playing the lead role on the show, Leah McNamara told Her.ie that she is incredibly proud of the project. Leah’s character Tara is complex and has suffered a lot of trauma, but that’s what Leah loves so much about her.
She said: “What I loved about Tara is obviously she goes to so many different places in the series. I won’t give any spoilers away but she really goes on a bit of a wild journey in herself.
“A lot of the characters don’t have a lot of text sometimes and you have to tell the story with your eyes. You get to really get inside the person and look at the psychological element of her and there is a big psychological element to Tara.
“She has had a lot of trauma happen to her in her life. I loved getting into her mentality and her mind. I’m kind of looking at that darkness of her and also getting to explore how she is very balanced out in the script with the girls and all the guys.”
“She has had a lot of trauma happen to her in her life”
Leah said the diverse cast is one of the best parts of the show. “There are a lot of contrasting people in it. I love how no personality is the same. I feel like there is something for everybody.”
Her co-star Darren Cahill agreed and said the unique cast is one thing that is bound to draw audiences in. Speaking about his own character Darian, the Irish actor revealed he’s one of the best characters he’s played.
“For me, I just loved how not very prude he was. It is so obvious that he doesn’t belong in this world yet he’s trying so hard to be a part of this world. He is so obviously wet behind the ears, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to impress everyone, especially his dad and the people that he’s close to.”
Then You Run is a thriller full of tense action scenes and moments that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. Leah said shooting the darker scenes was reassuring because of the experienced cast and crew. Leah shared: “I fire a gun at one point in the series, but you know you’re working with the best people who are so qualified and safety always comes first.
“It is so obvious that he doesn’t belong in this world”
“You are always in good hands when it comes to dealing with anything like that. I do think that the show has a good balance so while it does have those more violent moments I think the directors have weaved in those more comedic moments and those dark comedic moments and it strikes a very good balance and it all works very cohesively together.”
The Then You Run team filmed the show during the pandemic so the show’s premiere has been a long time coming for the stellar cast. Leah and Darren both agreed that it’s been surreal finally seeing the story they worked so hard on come to life on screen. “I am really proud of everyone involved and I am really proud of what we all put together on that show. I genuinely really do just feel proud of the whole thing,” Leah gushed.
All episodes of Then You Run are available from July 7 on Sky Max & NOW
