Surface Interviews: Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Oliver Jackson-Cohen

A new mystery is set to entice viewers when Surface premieres on Apple TV+ on July 29, 2022. The show comes from Veronica West, and it’s exactly the kind of psychological thriller that will have people talking due to its many twists and turns. On top of this, it’s very well made, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it garnered Apple TV+ some awards attention down the road.

Leading the charge is Gugu Mbatha-Raw, playing the role of Sophie, a woman who is trying to piece together her memories, leading to a suicide attempt. With the role, Mbatha-Raw takes on different personalities in one character. She gets to embody Sophie before the suicide attempt, in the moments right before the action, and a Sophie who comes out of it not fully believing everything is as it seems. It’s a dream role for an actress, something she expresses during our interview. She was excited to bring this part to life, giving much of the credit to the series’ creator, Veronica West.

Giving her top-notch support is Oliver Jackson-Cohen, playing her husband, James. The actor plays the seemingly charming and helpful husband with ease, but you sense there is darkness bubbling beneath surface. Is the information James is giving Sophie legit? Were they as happily married as he’s trying to indicate? It’s a difficult role because your allegiances shift moment to moment with him, but Oliver Jackson-Cohen is more than capable of taking this on. During our interview, we talk about the beauty in the duality of the role, and we also get into what it was like for him to be in a perfect acting tennis match with his co-star, Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Surface begins streaming on Apple TV+ on July 29, 2022.