Riot Women star Joanna Scanlan reveals the big difference with her new role in thriller Missed Call

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Joanna Scanlan, recently featured in the BBC series Riot Women, is now starring in the new thriller, Missed Call.

The new five-episode series features Jessica Scanlan as Sarah, a mother who receives a terrifying phone call – a missed call from her daughter Katie while Katie is on a student exchange program overseas.

When local authorities didn’t seem to be helping, Sarah decided to investigate her daughter’s disappearance herself. This role is quite different from her previous part as Beth Thornton in the Sally Wainwright drama. Was it a noticeable shift for her while playing the character?

Scanlan explained to TopMob that Beth’s storyline felt very different from others because her character was struggling with depression. While she does experience personal growth throughout the story, he emphasized that she’s fundamentally a sensitive, intelligent person who constantly worries about potential problems.

She’s really struggling with sadness and, frankly, is having thoughts of suicide. Sarah, however, is a very optimistic and hopeful person.

Scanlan explained that she doesn’t dwell on things – she trusts her instincts. But she’s also smart and quick-witted. She’s the type of person who will address a difficult topic directly when others are being hesitant or overly polite, simply asking what’s happening and getting to the heart of the matter.

I admire those kinds of people. They’re full of life, and we need more honesty in today’s world. This woman, in particular, has a naturally positive and energetic personality, and it’s fascinating to see how she handles difficult situations. While she can sometimes be a bit over the top, I see her as a bit of a role model. I wish I could be more straightforward like her.

Rupert Graves, known for his role in Sherlock, explained that he appreciated how his character pushed boundaries in the story. He believes someone needs to challenge people to reveal their secrets and overcome their reluctance, and that’s what she did, making it a heroic act.

Riot Women is officially coming back for a second season! Creator Wainwright hinted at the renewal that things are about to get even more exciting, saying, “Oh, this is where the fun really starts!”

The creator of the show, who also writes, directs, and produces it, said they were incredibly touched by the amazing reaction to the first series. They’re excited to build on that success with a second series, and hope everyone will enjoy the ride!

In the movie Missed Call, single mom Sarah’s life is thrown into chaos when she gets a missed call late at night from her daughter, Katie, who is away on a school trip in a beautiful French village.

When Sarah travels to France to look for her missing daughter, Katie, she’s shocked by how little the host family and local officials seem to care. Determined to find Katie, Sarah’s investigation quickly becomes a desperate and risky fight against the clock.

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Missed Call will air on 5 on Monday 13 April at 9pm.

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, freelancing, and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-04-11 11:34