James Nesbitt teases whether his Run Away character can be trusted in Netflix series

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Viewers of Harlan Coben’s TV shows have come to expect a lot of surprising twists, and most of them are genuinely hard to see coming.

Having already created several popular shows, the author’s next project with Netflix, Run Away, features a fantastic cast including James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver, and other well-known actors.

The show follows Simon Greene, played by Nesbitt, a man with a good job and family who becomes frantic when his daughter, Paige, disappears and appears to be heading down a troubled and risky road.

We wondered if Simon is reliable, and we asked Nesbitt this at the screening of Run Away at BFI Southbank. This is especially relevant since this series is the third time the actor has been involved in a TV adaptation of Harlan Coben’s work.

He explained that when acting, the best approach is to fully immerse yourself in the present moment and be genuine. If you do that, the story will naturally unfold as it should. He anticipates the audience might feel confused or disoriented at times, but ultimately believes it will be a thrilling experience.

Ruth and I connected really well, which was fantastic. It was our first time working together, and I think that fresh start was important, both for us and for how our characters related to each other. It’s something to be thankful for – it’s a job, and it takes a lot of effort, but that’s what makes it special.

It’s been a while since I finished drama school, and looking back at my graduating class – which was known for being particularly talented – not many of us are still working actors. Because of that, I truly appreciate every single day I get to work on set; it feels like a real gift.

Danny Brocklehurst, known for his work on ‘Brassic’, wrote this new eight-episode series, giving it a distinctly British feel. As with other series based on Harlan Coben’s work, this one is set in the UK and stars several well-known actors to tell its intense story.

By the time I start writing, I’ve usually given the story a lot of thought. As the person starting this series, I aim to make it as captivating as possible. With ‘Run Away,’ I especially wanted to establish a strong emotional connection right from the beginning, since it’s a story about the relationship between a parent and a child. I focused on building that connection within the first 10 to 15 minutes.

Run Away tells the story of Simon, a man who seemed to have it all – a happy family, a good career, and a comfortable home. But his world collapses when his teenage daughter, Paige, runs away. The film follows Simon as he desperately searches for her, and finally finds her in a vulnerable state, struggling with drug addiction. He now has the opportunity to rescue her and bring her back home.

She soon discovers she isn’t the only one facing this issue, and a disagreement quickly turns shockingly violent. Afterwards, Simon feels like he’s lost his daughter all over again, and his desperate search for her leads him into a shadowy and perilous world, uncovering hidden truths that threaten to destroy his family.

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Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025.

The new series, Run Away, will be available to stream on Netflix starting January 1st, 2026. Netflix subscriptions start at just £5.99 per month and you can also watch on Sky Glass and Virgin Media.

Don’t miss out! Add “Run Away” to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

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2025-12-30 12:34