Exclusive: Lara Rossi Talks New Series ‘The Watch’
Currently airing on BBC AMERICA is its newest original series The Watch, which follows an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, who are forced to find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it.
From lead writer and executive producer Simon Allen (The Musketeers), the modern and inclusive series is inspired by the characters created by Sir Terry Pratchett’s famous “Discworld” novels, including the captain of The City Watch Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer, Game of Thrones), the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi, I May Destroy You), the naïve but heroic Carrot (Adam Hugill, 1917), the mysterious Angua (Marama Corlett, Blood Drive) and the ingenious forensics expert Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent, Don’t Forget the Driver) together with The Watch’s own idiosyncratic depiction of Death (Wendell Pierce, The Wire).
The series also stars Sam Adewunmi (The Last Tree) as Carcer Dun, a figure from Vimes’ past; Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows) who is voicing Wayne, a talking sword; Anna Chancellor (Pennyworth) as Lord Vetinari; and Bianca Simone Mannie (Homeland) as Wonse. Also appearing are James Fleet (Outlander) as The Archchancellor; Ralph Ineson (Chernobyl), who is voicing Sergeant Detritus; Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Dynasty) as Captain John Keel; Paul Kaye (Game of Thrones) as Inigo Skimmer, a.k.a. The Duke of Stab; Ruth Madeley (Years and Years) as Throat; and Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who) as Doctor Cruces.
The Watch is a BBC AMERICA original series executive produced by Hilary Salmon (Luther), Ben Donald (The Mallorca Files) and Richard Stokes for BBC Studios, Rob Wilkins (Good Omens) for Narrativia, Simon Allen and Craig Viveiros (The War of the Worlds). Johann Knobel (Shameless) is series producer of The Watch, and Simon Rogers (Doctor Foster) is production designer. BBC Studios is handling distribution internationally.
BlackFilmandTV.com’s Wilson Morales caught up with Lara Rossi as she spoke about her latest TV series. Her previous TV credits include roles in Robin Hood (2018), Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) and Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)