Anne-Marie Duff shares how new role in British BBC thriller forced her to be brave

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Actress Anne-Marie Duff shared that taking on a role in the latest BBC drama alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis motivated her to show more courage.

The show “Reunion” is a unique production that employs both British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken English. It chronicles the path of former convict Daniel Brennan, who is deaf (played by Matthew Gurney), as he strives for redemption.

In a simpler form: Duff plays Christine, Ayling-Ellis’ on-screen mom, after learning sign language for an important role.

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Duff shared that speaking with Rose was initially nerve-wracking due to her exceptional lip reading skills, but it turned out to be beneficial as it pushed her out of her comfort zone. She expressed how working on the four-part thriller was a precious opportunity for her, as she learned a beautiful method of communication and storytelling that could potentially impact even one person’s perspective, making it incredibly significant.

She went on saying: “Being involved in a meaningful story for humanity is truly thrilling as an actor. It makes you feel significant rather than trivial. You think, ‘I’m contributing to the purpose of our actions.’ As a result, I enjoyed every moment of it. I appreciated my learning sessions for sign language.

At the outset, Duff admitted that she was a complete novice, expressing: “In a sense, it’s simpler because you can act foolish without concern, and you start from a more innocent perspective.

Actress Lara Peake, portraying Gurney’s character’s on-screen child named Carly, shared warm recollections about working on the series as well.

She shared with Digital Spy that, truthfully, if given the chance, she’d spend more time with the deaf community. She greatly misses being immersed in British Sign Language since taking on this job.


I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity because it’s not every day you get to learn British Sign Language (BSL). It requires time and money for tuition, so I consider myself lucky to have had the chance every day. Being able to participate in this role and story was a blessing, and I fully immersed myself in it. So, I can’t help but express my deep gratitude for being given this chance.

Reunion will premiere on BBC One on Monday, April 7 at 9pm.

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2025-04-05 09:49