‘Derry Girls’ star joins 1850s London drama series ‘The Doll Factory’

Paramount+ has announced the cast for their adaptation of The Doll Factory.

Based on Elizabeth Macneal’s historical fiction novel, the six-part series comes from the makers of Marcella and the producer of Magpie Murders.

The Sunday Times bestseller, published in 2019, was described as a “sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art, and obsession” by The Girl on the Train author Paula Hawkins.

The official synopsis reads: “Set in London, 1850, The Doll Factory tells the story of Iris, who paints dolls for a living alongside her twin sister, Rose.

“Silas is a taxidermist who dreams of one day finding an item so unique he will be catapulted to fame. Louis is a painter searching for his next muse.

“When Iris meets Silas, and then Louis, she is offered an opportunity to escape and start a new life. To do so, she must abandon her sister, sacrifice her reputation, and launch herself into the unknown. But as Iris’ world expands, a story of dark obsession begins to unfold…”

The Doll Factory is filming right now in Dublin, Ireland, with Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna) leading the cast as Iris, Éanna Hardwicke (Normal People) as Silas, and Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin) as Rose.

They’re joined by George Webster (Wedding Season) as Louis, a painter and member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Saoirse Monica Jackson, best known as Erin in Derry Girls, is also going to be in the show.

Other cast members include Pippa Haywood (Bodyguard), Sharlene Whyte (Stephen), Freddy Carter (Shadow and Bone), Laurie Kynaston (The Sandman), Jim Caesar (The Witcher), Akshay Khanna (Chloe), Aysha Kala (The Undeclared War), Nell Hudson (Outlander), and newcomer Reece Kenwyne-Mpudzi.

Executive producer Anna Burns commented: “We are so excited about the group of people we’ve brought together for this show … we couldn’t wish for a more talented cast to be bringing to life the characters we love so much. A huge thanks to Paramount+ who we are delighted to be working with again.”

She added: “Finally, thank you to Elizabeth Macneal, who has been a dream collaborator from the very start.”

The Doll Factory will premiere in the UK exclusively on Paramount+ in 2023.

In Australia and New Zealand it’ll air on public broadcasters SBS and TVNZ respectively.

Also coming up on Paramount+, other British productions include No Escape, The Burning Girls, and their adaptation of Amor Towles’ A Gentleman In Moscow, which stars Ewan MacGregor.

And launching next month is romantic-comedy series The Flatshare, starring Jessica Brown Findlay from Downton Abbey.

Elizabeth Macneal’s novel The Doll Factory is available on Amazon.