Ella Lily Hyland on Towards Zero—A Must-Watch for Agatha Christie Fans

This month, the highly anticipated BBC One adaptation of Agatha Christie's epic mystery novel Towards Zero made its grand debut on the world stage. Like any Agatha Christie plotline, it's gripping and keeps you wondering because, truthfully, who doesn't like a good whodunnit with family tension and power struggles amongst the 1%?

Set in 1936, the series is based on one of Agatha Christie's lesser-known but incredibly intricate novels, weaving a tale of deception, family dynamics, and power struggles.

Amongst its highly-acclaimed cast is Irish actress, Ella Lily Hyland, best known for her role in Black Doves alongside Keira Knightley, who plays the enigmatic Audrey Strange alongside Oliver Jackson Cohen's Nevile Strange, a tennis star who is caught up amid a bigger scandal as he deals with the fallout of their divorce. The plot further thickens as they, along with a group of incredibly volatile guests, retreat to his aristocratic aunt's (portrayed by Oscar winner Anjelica Huston) summer home, where tensions rise — and murder follows.

In this exclusive interview with Vingt Sept Magazine, Ella Lily Hyland talks about her beginnings, how she brought Audrey to the silver screen while working with her co-stars, especially Anjelica Huston, and the complex theme of power within family dynamics.

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Congratulations on Towards Zero! I recently saw you in Black Doves and thought you were fantastic. How did your journey into acting begin, and what were some of your early experiences?

Thank you! I took drama classes as a kid, and then I did a play with the National Youth Theatre when I was 16. That’s when I realised I wanted to pursue acting as a career. It was around the time I was thinking about college, and that experience solidified my decision.

Do you remember your first big gig where you really felt, "This is it, this is my moment"?

I would say my first lead role was probably that moment. It was such a significant shift in my career, and it really made me feel like I was stepping into something significant.

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I watched the previews for Towards Zero, and I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan. I was excited to see the BBC doing another adaptation. You play Audrey, one of the lead roles. What drew you to this project?

The biggest draw for me was Sam (Yates), the director. I really wanted to work with him—I was a big fan of his work. The scripts were also so intriguing, and the character was unlike anything I’d played before. During the audition process, I loved the way Sam gave notes and directed. It felt really exciting, and I wanted to have the full experience of working with him. I didn’t know about the cast until accepting the role, but that was another thrilling aspect. Audrey was such a fun, different character to explore.

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What kind of preparation went into this role? I read that you drew some inspiration from actress Lauren Bacall for Audrey—what intrigued you most about her character?

I watched many old films, as the style of the piece had a tone reminiscent of classic cinema. Lauren Bacall was a great reference. Audrey intrigued me because of how nihilistic she was—she had a cynical view of the world and saw its workings detached rather than through an empathetic lens. That made her fascinating to play. She also wore a strong mask, and exploring what was beneath it when it cracked was interesting. Unlike other roles where I might bring a character to me, with Audrey, I felt like I had to step into her world fully. She was also hedonistic—she loved pleasure, food, sex—all of which added layers to her character.

That perspective sounds really challenging! What was your process for decompressing after filming such an intense role?

I’d watch things unrelated to the project, do workouts, or listen to different music. Louise Kempton, our intimacy coordinator and director, suggested making a playlist that counteracts your character’s playlist—kind of like your own Desert Island Discs—so you can shift your mindset whenever needed. That was really helpful because music has such a powerful impact on mood.

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That’s a great approach! Tell me about your dynamic with Oliver Jackson-Cohen, who plays Neville, your husband in the series. How did you work together to bring that intense, toxic dynamic to life?

From the start, we were really comfortable with each other. We became close quickly, which helped a lot. Ollie is incredibly detailed in his work—he really dives deep into his character. We had great discussions about our characters and constantly kept each other in the loop. We also laughed a lot, which made everything easier. We drew inspiration from relationships like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s, which was really interesting. Since Audrey mirrors Neville in many ways, watching Ollie build his character helped me shape mine. I admire him so much, and working with him was a fantastic experience.

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Audrey has a detached approach to relationships, not just with Neville but also with other characters, like Angelica Huston’s. How did that emotional detachment influence those dynamics?Playing detachment was fun because it allowed me to observe more within scenes. It was also challenging because I couldn’t rely on emotion as much—Audrey often reacted inappropriately to situations. It was tricky but rewarding to play someone who holds back so much. It also added a game-like element to scenes, where I had to figure out how much I could suppress while conveying depth. It made every interaction with other characters even more layered and complex.

For future viewers who will be watching Towards Zero, what can you tell us about Audrey's actions throughout the series?

Much of what she does is driven by survival—trying to hold onto her identity. So much of that identity is tied to the man she's spent her life with, and she’s desperately trying to preserve her status. I think she’s willing to go to great lengths for that—without giving too much away.

What was it like working closely with Anjelica Huston? What did you learn from her, particularly in a story so focused on family dynamics?

It was incredible. She’s such a pro—a true master of her craft. Even though she’s this iconic actor with an incredible presence, she has a warmth that makes you feel at ease. When you’re in a scene with her, she just drops into character so effortlessly—it’s almost magical. She has this twinkle in her eye when she acts, and it’s completely enchanting.

What were some of the biggest lessons you took away from working with her? Any advice she gave you about getting into character?

Just watching how she carries herself and the deep care she has for her character was really inspiring. She has such a strong sense of ownership over her energy and performance, and that kind of confidence is something I really learned from.

That’s amazing. Now, Towards Zero is very much about family dynamics. How do you think this adaptation reflects modern social situations within families or relationships in general?

I found the power dynamics interesting—it shows how wealth, status, and even fame (in Ollie’s case) can be used to manipulate or play power games. Some characters are insatiable in their pursuit of control. But then you have relationships, like Thomas and Mary’s, that feel more genuine—rooted in something deeper than ego or ambition. Those contrasts make the story really powerful.

It highlights how essential empathy is—without it, you get these cycles of control, resentment, and, well... sometimes murder. The characters who have the most status seem to be the least happy and least compassionate, which says a lot.

What do you hope audiences take away from this adaptation as we wrap up?

I hope Agatha Christie fans see it as an exciting extension of her work—something they can enjoy alongside the original book. It’s beautifully shot and really explores human relationships in an engaging way. Most of all, I hope it brings people together—sparking conversations, debates about who did it, and that classic whodunit excitement.

Exactly! That’s what makes Christie’s stories so fun. Do you have any memorable behind-the-scenes anecdotes you can share?

There are so many, but I can’t think of one off the top of my head! There were plenty of funny moments, but they were mostly private jokes—they probably wouldn’t make sense out of context.

Now that Towards Zero is out, do you have any upcoming projects your fans should look out for?

A few exciting things are coming up this year, but I don’t think I can talk about them just yet! Nothing’s in writing yet, so I have to keep quiet for now.