Harry Potter HBO star compares fantasy series acting to new role in emotional drama Babies

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This article discusses sensitive topics like pregnancy loss and miscarriage, which may be upsetting for some readers.

Before taking on a role in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series on HBO, Paapa Essiedu will appear in the BBC drama Babies. This new series, created by Stefan Golaszewski—who also wrote Mum and Marriage—offers a more realistic and grounded style of storytelling.

Weruche Essiedu and Siobhán Cullen lead the cast of a moving new drama as Stephen and Lisa, a couple struggling with the heartbreak of repeated miscarriages as they try to start a family.

Jack Bannon plays Dave, Stephen’s close friend, and Charlotte Riley stars as Amanda, Dave’s new girlfriend. Their budding romance, alongside the experiences of Stephen and Lisa, creates tension and ultimately strains the friendship between the two men.

Essiedu, Cullen, and Bannon recently gave TopMob an exclusive interview where they discussed how working on this realistic new series differs from their experiences on shows with fantastical elements or more dramatic styles.

When asked if working on such diverse projects feels different, Essiedu explained that it’s a bit of both. He noted that shows aiming for realism, like this one, prioritize creating a believable environment – from the set design to the costumes – which differs from the approach taken with fantasy projects. There’s a strong emphasis on authenticity.

No matter what we’re working on, we always aim to find something that feels genuine, honest, and believable.

The overall feel is a bit different, mainly because this feels more natural and flowing, like watching something unfold. The camera stays a bit further back and observes, instead of using a lot of dramatic angles or drone shots.

Both approaches are challenging and require a lot of skill, so it’s hard to say one is better than the other. We were all united, though, in how we wanted to tell this story.

When asked about reviewing the series compared to his other work, Cullen noted the absence of visual effects or elaborate filming techniques meant there was ‘nowhere to hide’ – every performance was completely exposed.

We never relied on editing or camera tricks to fix problems. From the start, there was a strong sense of trust between the actors, the crew, and our director, Stefan. That trust was key to everything.

Even when things feel difficult or emotionally challenging, you can trust that you’re in good hands with Stefan, who has a clear plan and knows what he’s doing.

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Bannon explained that watching the footage felt raw and unfiltered because the cameras didn’t move much, limiting editing options. He felt like he was seeing exactly what happened during the recording, unlike heavily edited footage where you question what was included or left out.

Watching the rough cuts helped me understand the decisions made during filming, like why certain shots were included. It felt more aligned with my expectations because, as someone involved in the process, I had a better understanding of the creative choices than the editor might.

For information and support, please visit Tommy’s or The Mariposa Trust.

The new series, Babies, starts on BBC One at 9pm on Monday, March 30th. You can also watch all the episodes right now on BBC iPlayer.

Want to stay updated on ‘Babies’? Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app! Download now to get daily TV recommendations, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-03-30 14:39