David Tennant And Anna Gunn On Filming Gracepoint: "It Was A Continual Cagney & Lacey Meme"



Gracepoint stars David Tennant and Anna Gunn confess to have found inspiration for their onscreen professional partnership in a surprising place: the 1980s classic cop show Cagney & Lacey. The pair play Detectives Emmett Carver and Ellie Miller in the brand new event series from Fox TV which premieres next month.

“We always said Cagney & Lacey was our inspiration,” joked Anna, in conversation with Entertainment Weekly. “That was something that made us laugh nonstop, not because this is like Cagney & Lacey, though we could be a team like that..”

“And I’m playing Tyne Daly,” interjected David

“Yeah,” Anna agreed. “I’m the blonde and you’re the brunette.”


It was a continual Cagney & Lacey meme. It probably drove everybody else mad, but we found it hilarious,” added David. “I’ve probably got about 20 photographs on my phone of us pointing guns in a Cagney & Lacey manner.”

It wasn't all jokes though, as the ten-part drama deals with the emotional subject of the murder of a child and the aftermath of the crime on a small close-knit community. Based on the ITV series Broadchurch, in which David also starred, there are plenty of twists and turns ahead, as well as a very different ending to the UK original. 

David found it impossible to compare the two conclusions without giving anything away. “What they have is a very different note. There’s a real thrill to come,” he said.

“They’re both equally wonderful and thrilling and will take the audience on a journey that’s equally true,” added Anna. “It just means the writing is so good, they take you off on a different path.  I feel both have equal emotional impact. They’re both equally as truthful and engaging and compelling.”


The ten part crime drama Gracepoint starts on Thursday 2nd October at 9pm/8c on Fox. Other cast members include Kevin Zegers, Jacki Weaver, Kendrick Sampson, Nick Nolte, Michael Peña and Kevin Rankin. 



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