Exclusive: Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Oliver Jackson-Cohen talk Apple Thriller Series ‘Surface’
Currently playing on Apple TV+ is the thriller series Surface, from creator and EP Veronica West and starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who also serves as EP. “Surface” features an ensemble cast including Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Stephan James, Ari Graynor, Academy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste, François Arnaud and Millie Brady.
Set in high-end San Francisco, “Surface,” stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“The Morning Show”) who also executive produces, as Sophie, a woman who has suffered a traumatic head injury that has left her with extreme memory loss, believed to be a result of a suicide attempt. As Sophie embarks on a quest to put the pieces of her life back together with the help of her husband and friends, she begins to question whether or not the truth she is told is in fact the truth she has lived. Through twists and turns and an unexpected love triangle, this sexy, elevated thriller asks: What if you woke up one day and didn’t know your own secrets? “Surface” is a story of self- discovery which contemplates if we are pre-programmed to become who we are, or if we choose our own identity.
“Surface” is produced for Apple TV+ by Apple Studios and Hello Sunshine. West, who created and wrote the original series, also serves as executive producer. Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter executive produce on behalf of Hello Sunshine. Emmy Award-nominee Sam Miller (“I May Destroy You”), directed four episodes of the series including the pilot and serves as executive producer. Kevin Sullivan, Jennifer Morrison, Tucker Gates also directed episodes.
For Mbatha-Raw, this is her fifth series in the last three years. Previously, she had starred in The Morning Show, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Loki and The Girl Before. As for Jackson-Cohen, he is best known for his role as Adrian Griffin in the 2020 adaptation of The Invisible Man and for his roles in the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor. He can also be seen in the period drama Mr. Malcolm’s List.