Secret Smile (2005) (TV)

Director:

Christopher Menaul

Writers:

Kate Brooke (screenplay)
Sean French (novel)

Release Date:

12 December 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

When Miranda (Kate Ashfield) Splits up with her creepy boyfriend Brendan (David Tennant) because he...

Plot Keywords:

Attack | Drowning In Bathtub | Rape | Threat | Female Full Frontal Nudity

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kate Ashfield	...	Miranda Cotton
David Tennant	...	Brendan Block
Claire Goose	...	Kerry Cotton
Jill Baker	...	Marcia Cotton
John Bowe	...	Derek Cotton
Keira Jane Malik	...	Naomi (as Keira Malik)
Susannah Wise	...	Laura
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlie Condou	...	Lawrence
James Daffern	...	Tony
Tim Faraday	...	Mick
Susie Gossling Valerio	...	Landlady
Rufus Jones	...	David
Ella Kenion	...	News Presenter
Rory Kinnear	...	Nick
Caroline Loncq	...	Magistrate
Robert Lowe	...	Troy Cotton
Sandy McDade	...	Susan
Patrick Myles	...	Harry Vermont
Daphne Neville	...	Laura's Mother
George Potts	...	Vicar
Daniel Ryan	...	Rob Prior
Richard Rycroft	...	Brendan's Lawyer
James Smith	...	Crown Court Judge
Badria Timimi	...	DI Jean Holmes
Donna Ward	...	Pub Girl
Ben Willbond	...	David's Friend

Runtime:

UK:180 min (including commercials) (2 parts)

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Canada TV

Goofs:

Continuity: When Naomi gets back from talking to Miranda in the car and enters the apartment, her hair is up in a clip when she puts the key in the door. It's down when she is coming in through the door and then it is back up in a clip when she pushes the door too.

Quotes:

Brendan Block: [just found out that Miranda wants to break up with him] Miranda, I love you.
Miranda Cotton: Just go.
Brendan Block: You Bitch.

Woman dates man, woman dumps man, man gets even with chilling results

I had the misfortune of missing the first part of this mini-drama. How foolish do I feel now? Incredibly. From what I have seen though, wow! Brief summary: woman dates man, woman dumps man, spurned lover tries to get his own back any way he can. I had previously seen David Tennant in Casanova and found him to have an irresistible charm.Tennant's television history as I know it was based in comedy and so I was intrigued to see him starring in a thriller.However, he did not fail to impress me in Secret Smile. His portrayal of a spurned lover hell bent on revenge was both captivating and chilling. One can see how charming he is but one constantly has to remind oneself about what he really is. The supporting cast are amazing. I did not think Claire Goose would be able to make the transition from soap acting in Casualty to such a serious drama. However, I was pleasantly surprised and her role showed how easily people can be controlled and manipulated. Furthermore, I admit I was not enamoured with Kate Ashfield until now. You were with her every step of the way, feeling her anger and frustration. It is not very often that such a suspenseful drama that actually holds you to your seat comes along. Television nowadays has become highly predictable but I am pleased to say that this was not. It was a superbly acted and directed piece. Best performance must go to Tennant. He was able to capture and exemplify how easy it is to dominate one person and how deep an impact that it can have.This is highly prevalent in a society where stalking and domestic violence remains taboo. I was afraid that Tennant would lose his edge with going to mainstream television, but if this is anything to go by, I had nothing to worry about.