FIRST LOOK AT KATE WINSLET AND MIA THREAPLETON IN CHANNEL 4 DRAMA I AM RUTH

10 November 2022

Channel 4 is today releasing a first look image of Academy Award winner Kate Winslet starring alongside Mia Threapleton in I Am Ruth, which will air on Channel 4 later this year. 

 I Am Ruth is a feature-length instalment of the BAFTA-nominated and female-led drama anthology series I Am, created by BAFTA winning filmmaker Dominic Savage. This two hour special is produced by Emmy-winning Me+You Productions in association with PGA award winning Juggle Productions (Executive Producers of Mare of Easttown).

The fictional storyline for I Am Ruth was developed and co-authored by Dominic Savage and Kate Winslet, who together have conceived a story for our times about the endemic mental health crisis affecting young people.

The film offers an honest and authentic portrayal of a mother and daughter’s increasingly strained relationship. Winslet stars as Ruth, a loving and concerned mother who witnesses her teenage daughter Freya (Mia Threapleton) retreating into herself as she becomes more and more consumed by the pressures of social media. 

Kate Winslet said:

“The collaborative and sensitive way in which Dominic Savage goes about creating and filming each episode of 'I Am' is challenging, rewarding and completely immersive. The actors become these roles, and there is simply no room for pretending. It's a working environment that any actor would give anything to be a part of, and I can safely say with my hand on heart that I will never forget the things we learnt as we made this piece. The low key, quiet nature in which we put this together is how I aspire to work all the time. Often creative environments can be big and overwhelming, but part of Dominic's directorial process is to keep things to a bare minimum and just focus on the actors and the world we are creating alongside him, and with his unwavering support. It was a privilege and an inspiration to work with Dominic Savage. He's simply extraordinary.”

Dominic Savage said: 

“Creating I Am Ruth for Channel 4 has been an honour as well a sublime creative experience for me. Collaborating closely with the incredible Kate Winslet to bring this important story surrounding child mental health to the screen has been an absolute highlight of my filmmaking career. It encapsulates everything that I love about making drama - experimental, raw, instinctive, with fearless acting, and above all, about something that affects all of us in some way. I believe that many parents and children will relate to our story of immense difficulty and hope.”

Krishnendu Majumdar, producer and co-founder of Me+You Productions, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of this searingly powerful drama. It came from the unique and beautiful collaboration between Dominic Savage, one of the most distinctive and visionary filmmakers working today, and Kate Winslet, one of the finest actors and storytellers of her generation. We thank them and Channel 4 for their continued support and belief in making stories that truly matter.”

Caroline Hollick, Head of Drama at Channel 4, said: 

“Topical, compelling and insightful, I Am Ruth is a story for our times which will resonate with parents and teenagers alike. Kate and Mia’s portrayal of Ruth and Freya is powerful, moving and utterly gripping and we are proud to be bringing it to UK viewers on Channel 4.”

I Am Ruth follows the success of two previous I Am series, offering distinctive single films exploring the experience of women in moments that are emotionally raw, thought-provoking and personal, which have seen a tremendous response to the series from the public and critics alike. I Am series two recently won a C21 Drama Award and was nominated for both a BAFTA Award (Best Single Drama), and a Broadcast Award (Best Single Drama).  I Am series one was nominated for a BAFTA (Leading Actress – Samantha Morton), two Broadcast Awards, a Royal Television Society Award and a C21 International Drama Award, and won a WFTV Award. 

I Am became Channel 4’s most successful new 10pm drama in six years when it debuted in August 2019, with Vicky McClure starring in I Am Nicola; Samantha Morton starring in I Am Kirsty; and Gemma Chan starring in I Am Hannah.  Series two was equally successful, starring Suranne Jones in I Am Victoria, Letitia Wright in I Am Danielle and Lesley Manville in I Am Maria.

I Am Ruth (1x120”) is created, written and directed by Dominic Savage and the story is by Dominic Savage and Kate Winslet. It is produced by Me+You Productions in association with Juggle Productions. Executive Producers are Dominic Savage, Kate Winslet and Richard Yee. The film is produced by Me+You co-founder Krishnendu Majumdar and Josh Hyams. I Am Ruth was commissioned by Caroline Hollick and Gemma Boswell for Channel 4 as the first, feature length episode from series three of I Am (with further instalments yet to be announced). I Am Ruth is co-funded by Sky Studios and international sales are handled by NBCU Distribution.  

About Me+You Productions

Me+You Productions is an award-winning independent film and television production company founded by Emmy winning producers Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar. They make cinematic authored drama, comedy and documentaries with the very best writing, directing and acting talent and have a track record in making global hit series. Diversity is in the DNA of Me+You: the company is owned and creatively led by two people of colour. Me+You is committed to reflecting and representing the diversity of the UK and beyond. They ensure that Diversity and Inclusion is hardwired into everything they do and the types of stories they tell. They’re passionate about championing diverse voices and talent in front of and behind the camera. www.meandyouproductions.co.uk

About Juggle Productions

Juggle Productions is the PGA award winning company set up by actor and producer Kate Winslet. After 30 years of acting in films whilst largely raising her children, Winslet formed 'Juggle' as her way of acknowledging and supporting the phenomenal amount that women in film and television are capable of achieving, whilst juggling family life and maintaining creative integrity. The company is committed to telling stories that have women, courage and truth at their core. The company is currently in development with two limited series alongside HBO - ‘The Palace’ with Stephen Frears and ‘Trust’ based on Hernan Diaz’s bestselling novel, with Todd Haynes. Other credits include the award winning ‘Mare of Easttown’ (HBO) and ‘Lee’, the company's debut feature which tells the story of a decade in the life of acclaimed war correspondent Lee Miller.

About Dominic Savage

Dominic Savage is a BAFTA-winning filmmaker. Dominic created three seasons of award winning and critically acclaimed anthology drama series for C4, I AM. Each single film has been developed in collaboration with one of Britain’s leading female actors: Season 1 starred Oscar nominee Samantha Morton BAFTA winner Vicky McClure and Gemma Chan. The series was the highest rating 10pm C4 drama since 2012. The award winning second series, starring BAFTA winners Suranne Jones, Letitia Wright and Oscar nominee Lesley Manville was broadcast on Channel 4 in August 2021. I Am Season 2 was nominated for Single Drama BAFTA and won a C21 International Drama award.

Other Credits:

NICE GIRL (2001) for BBC2 won the BAFTA Award for New Director Fiction 2001. Also nominated for the BAFTA Best Single Drama and Innovation award. WHEN I WAS 12 (2001) for BBC2, won the BAFTA Award for Best Single Film and numerous other awards. OUT OF CONTROL (2002) for BBC1 starred Tamzin Outhwaite and David Morrissey. It won the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Royal Television Society Award, Broadcast awards, and Monte Carlo Golden Nymph for Best single Film. LOVE + HATE (2005) premiered at the Berlin film festival, winning awards worldwide. BORN EQUAL (2007) for BBC1 starred Colin Firth, Anne Marie Duff, Robert Carlyle and David Oyelowo. FREEFALL (2009) for BBC 2 starred Dominic Cooper, Anna Maxwell Martin, Rosamund Pike, Riz Ahmed and Aiden Gillen. TRUE LOVE (2012) for BBC1 was a semi improvised 5 part drama series starring David Tennant, Vicky McClure, Joanne Froggatt, Billy Piper, David Morrissey, Gemma Chan, Ashley Walters, Jane Horrocks. THE SECRETS (2014) for BBC1 was a 5 part drama series of standalone single films starring Olivia Colman, Joanne Froggatt, Ben Chaplin, Alison Steadman, Emilia Fox, Sarah Solemani. Dominic wrote and directed the feature film THE ESCAPE in 2017 for Shoebox Films starring Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper. The film was screened at the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and was received with critical acclaim.