A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story Cast Revealed: From Lucy Boynton to Toby Jones

The Ruth Ellis Story, which delves into the sad life of the last woman executed in Britain.

In 1955, Ellis fatally shot her violent partner, David Blakely (portrayed by Laurie Davidson). This incident sparked extensive discussions about the death penalty, leading eventually to its abolition for murder cases ten years later.

In this dramatization, Toby Jones, following the significant case of Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, takes on a role as John Bickford, the solicitor for the character Ellis, who is involved in another instance of legal injustice.

Additionally, the ensemble of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story features actors recognized from shows like Doctor Who, Happy Valley, and Bridgerton. For further details about these cast members, such as images showcasing their real-life likenesses, take a look below.

A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story cast

Here is a quick overview of the key cast members in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.

Explore further to uncover comprehensive portrayals, complete with genuine images, of the characters being played by these actors. You may recognize some faces from previous roles they’ve taken on.

Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis
Toby Jones as John Bickford
Laurie Davidson as David Blakely
Mark Stanley as Desmond Cussen
Bessie Carter as Carole Findlater
Ed Sayer as Anthony Findlater
Joe Armstrong as DCI Davies
Arthur Darvill as Victor Mishcon
Toby Stephens as Melford Stevenson
Nigel Havers as Cecil Havers
Audrey Brisson as Jacqueline
Rowan Robinson as Vicki
Amanda Drew as Bertha
Juliet Stevenson as Dr Charity Taylor

Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis

Intriguingly, I’ve come across the captivating figure of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to face capital punishment in Britain. Born into a challenging life marked by poverty and abuse, she remarkably carved out a prosperous path for herself as a nightclub manager and courtesan. A fateful encounter with upper-class race car driver David Blakely at her establishment led us both down a tumultuous path, characterized by physical and emotional turmoil.

In the end, she ended his life outside a pub in London, and the following murder case gained significant attention across Britain, leading to widespread debate on the ethical implications of the death penalty.

Besides “The Ipcress File,” “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?”, “The Politician” on Netflix, and “A Cruel Love,” Lucy Boynton has also been a part of the mystery thriller “The Pale Blue Eye,” as well as major films like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Barbie.

Laurie Davidson as David Blakely

David Blakely was a well-off race car driver who was romantically involved with Ruth Ellis for several years. Unfortunately, their relationship was marked by abuse, and ultimately, it led to his death at Ruth’s hands. However, during the trial, the court did not take into account the impact of David’s treatment towards her on the case.

Has Laurie Davidson been in anything else lately? Recently, you might recognize him from the Paramount Plus romantic comedy titled The Road Trip. Prior to that, he made appearances in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, Mary & George, Cats and Will, where he took on the role of a young William Shakespeare.

Mark Stanley as Desmond Cussen

Desmond Cussen was a former RAF pilot who served during World War II. Later in life, he had a romantic relationship with Ruth Ellis that put him at odds with David Blakely. Despite not being charged for David’s death, some historical accounts suggest he may have given Ruth the gun she used to kill him. However, Cussen always denied these allegations and has since passed away.

Apart from the recent Jed Mercurio and Vicky McClure thriller “Trigger Point”, what other productions has Mark Stanley been involved in? His previous works include “The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe”, “Happy Valley”, “The Reckoning” and “Sanditon”.

Nigel Havers as Judge Cecil Havers

This judicial figure is recognized as the magistrate who handed down the judgment in the Ruth Ellis trial. Notably, he was the grandfather of the well-known actor, Nigel Havers, adding a personal touch to this role assignment.

Apart from his long-running role as Lewis Archer on Coronation Street, Nigel Havers has also been a part of notable films such as Chariots of Fire, Empire of the Sun, and A Passage to India. More recently, he made an appearance in Guy Ritchie’s popular Netflix series The Gentlemen.

Toby Jones as John Bickford

Who is John Bickford? He served as the lawyer for Ruth Ellis, a woman whose story of domestic abuse he strongly believed. His aim was to prevent her from receiving capital punishment. Before taking on her case, Bickford had previously tried war criminals in Austria.

Apart from his captivating performance in Mr. Bates vs The Post Office last year, Toby Jones has appeared in a variety of other notable roles. These include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Hunger Games, Journey’s End, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, as well as the BBC sitcom Detectorists and providing the voice for Dobby in the Harry Potter movies.

Bessie Carter plays Carole Findlater

Who was Carole Findlater? Carole was an upper-class woman, who is friends with David Blakely.

What other productions has Bessie Carter appeared in besides Howards End, Bridgerton, and I Hate Suzie?

This rephrased sentence maintains the same meaning while using a more conversational tone and providing clarity on the context of Bessie Carter’s acting career.

Arthur Darvill as Victor Mishcon

Who was Victor Mishcon? Victor was a solicitor, who helped draw up Ruth Ellis’s divorce agreement.

Apart from his memorable role as Rory on the popular sci-fi series Doctor Who, Arthur Darvill has also been featured in the crime drama Broadchurch, the superhero show DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and the film Three Little Birds.

Toby Stephens as Melford Stevenson

Who was Melford Stevenson? Melford was the barrister who represented Ruth Ellis during her trial.

Has Toby Stephens appeared in any other productions aside from Die Another Day, Black Sails, Lost in Space, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, One Day, and The Split?

Ed Sayer plays Anthony Findlater

Who is Anthony Findlater? Anthony is Carole’s husband, and another friend of David’s.

Has Ed Sayer also been seen in any other productions? If so, they include the DC Comics drama Pennyworth, the BBC sitcom Toast of Tinseltown, and the Netflix series The Crown.

Audrey Brisson plays Jacqueline

Who is Jacqueline? Jacqueline is a friend of Ruth’s, who wants to save her life.

Has Audrey Brisson been involved in any other projects lately?

Rowan Robinson plays Vicki

Who is Vicki? Vicki is another of Ruth’s friends.

Has there been anything more that actor Rowan Robinson has appeared in, besides the movie “A Haunting in Venice” directed by Kenneth Branagh and the mystery series “Passenger” on ITVX?

2025-03-05 11:47