Endeavour's Shaun Evans was “repelled” by Until I Kill You serial killer
Shaun Evans, the lead actor in Endeavour, confessed that he felt "turned off" when he initially read the scripts for his role as John Sweeney in ITV's Until I Kill You.
During a press screening for the series, Evans shared his initial thoughts on the script with RadioTimes.com and other media outlets. He admitted, "It’s intriguing because you play the villain, and honestly, I felt a bit put off when I first read it. I thought to myself, ‘I’m not sure I’m into this.’"
He continued, "But then I realized there's something really amusing about it—it's a fascinating area to explore, and you want to feel professionally stimulated. It's a tricky balance to strike, isn't it?"
Since both individuals involved are real people, it’s important not to start off with strong judgments because that wouldn't be fair. I made an effort to avoid reading the book and meeting Delia [Balmer] beforehand. Instead, I focused on watching the documentary, listening to his voice, and studying his drawings. I kept those drawings in my room each day before heading to the set.
Furthermore, just like any other job, you need to explore the roles using your creativity and understanding of the characters. At the end of the day, I am an actor, so my job is to step in and perform. This experience was unique in many ways, but it also brought a sense of satisfaction.
Shaun Evans portrays John Sweeney, while Anna Maxwell Martin plays Delia Bahmer in the series "Until I Kill You." ITV/World Productions.
Evans is recognized for playing Endeavour Morse in *Endeavour*, as well as his part in *Vigil*, and he's also gearing up to appear in *Betrayal*. However, in *Until I Kill You*, he dives into a significantly more sinister character: John Sweeney.
The series takes a unique approach to the true crime genre by not simply indulging in Sweeney's narrative. Instead, it emphasizes how the events affect Delia and her struggle for justice.
In an interview with ITV, Evans mentioned that this series is somewhat different from what ITV typically produces. He explained that what makes it stand out—and what attracted him to the project—is its focus on the victim's story without putting anyone else in the spotlight.
You're digging deep into the aftermath of the event, and that's what I find intriguing, though also distressing. This perspective is quite rare for broadcasters. When you examine recent productions in the same category, they tend to concentrate more on the offender rather than the victim.
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The storyline of the series goes like this: After enduring severe trauma and harm caused by Sweeney, Delia courageously attempts to start anew. However, seven years later, Sweeney comes back into the picture and gets apprehended for killing another girlfriend in North London.
Delia's delicate progress toward recovery is once again thrown into turmoil as she must confront Sweeney publicly in court, with her evidence playing a crucial role in the prosecution's case against him.
"This is the tale of a woman's remarkable determination to endure immense physical and emotional pain, even when the systems that were supposed to safeguard her let her down."
"Until I Kill You" is set to premiere on ITV1 and ITVX, running from Sunday, November 3rd, to Wednesday, November 6th, with episodes scheduled for 9 PM on ITV1.
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