If, like us, you’ve already devoured Irish author Sally Rooney’s latest novel Beautiful World, Where Are You? then you’re in the market for updates on the television adaption of her acclaimed debut Conversations With Friends.
Thankfully for us, Joe Alwyn, who you may know as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has shared an exclusive behind the scenes preview of the shows cast in the sublime Northern Ireland countryside where the series is currently being shot.
Much like the book, the 12-part series will chronicle college student Frances and her ex-girlfriend turned best friend Bobbi’s unexpected relationship with married couple Melissa and Nick.
In the post, we get our first glimpse of the young cast portraying Rooney’s beloved characters. Alwyn, who stars as Nick, poses next to newcomers Sasha Lane and Alison Oliver who play Bobbi and Frances respectively.
Alwyn also shared a quirky snap of himself and Oliver on a train and a portrait drawn by co-star and Girl’s actress Jemima Kirke, who plays Alwayn’s wife in the show.
Although a release date is yet to be announced, we’re already counting down the days until this makes it to our screens. Given Rooney’s signed on to be Executive Producer, and the director behind Normal People returns to helm the production, we’re sure this highly anticipated series will live up the hype.
In the meantime, read on ahead for everything to know about the cast of the Conversations With Friends TV adaption, including where you’ve seen the stars before.
Alison Oliver as Frances
Alison Oliver is the only Irish cast member to join the series, and she’s not short on experience. Graduating from The Lir Academy in Dublin, the same drama school that Normal People star Paul Mescal attended, Oliver has previously starred in theatrical productions of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke and William Shakespeare’s The Merchant Of Venice. Conversations With Friends marks the first notable on screen portrayal from this thespian
Sasha Lane as Bobbi
Since 2016 when Sasha Lane was plucked out of obscurity to star in American Honey alongside Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough, Lane has gone on to deliver highly regarded performances in The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Utopia and Marvel’s Loki. As a poet herself, Lane won’t have to step out of her comfort zone in this portrayal of spoken-word poet Bobbi. Lane has also revealed she suffers from Schizoaffective Disorder.
Joe Alwyn as Nick
Joe Alwyn is a jack of all trades. Although he has starred alongside Kristen Stewart and Joel Egerton, he is probably best known for his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift. Since going public as a couple in 2016, Alwyn has co-written and produced numerous songs and albums with Swift, including winning a Grammy award for his contributions to Swift’s 2020 album Folklore. Alwyan has also previously won the Trophée Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Jemima Kirke as Melissa
Although coming from a famous family, her father is English rockstar Simon Kirke of Bad Company, Kirke rose to critical international acclaim thanks to her role in Girls. Since then, Kirke has starred in Netflix’s Sex Education and in music videos for Mick Jagger and Zayn. Kirke is also in a relationship with Australian musician Alex Cameron.
