A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story - Lucy Boynton and Toby Jones lead the cast of true crime dramatisation
By Helen Fear | Mon Mar 03 2025A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is the latest true crime dramatisation to arrive on ITV and it focuses on the last woman to be hanged in the UK, played here by Lucy Boynton in the exceptional cast.
Ruth Ellis was arrested following the shooting of her lover David Blakely in 1955. After she admitted murder, the police believed it to be an open-and-shut case...
However, Ruth's solicitor John Bickford thought differently. He believed Ruth was a victim of an abusive relationship who had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend.
The drama, based on real events, stars Lucy Boynton and Toby Jones. Here's who plays who in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on ITV1.
Lucy Boynton plays Ruth Ellis in cast of ITV drama A Cruel Love
New York-born actress Lucy Boynton, 31, plays the leading role of glamorous nightclub manageress Ruth. She was subsequently convicted of murder, and became the last woman to hang in the UK. She was just 28.
Like Until I Kill You before it, the new series will highlight the emotional and physical abuse suffered by Ruth at the hands of her lover David Blakely - who she went on to kill.
Lucy is perhaps best known for playing Jean Courtney in The Ipcress File, or Astrid Sloan in The Politician.
She's been on our screens ever since 2006, when she played Young Beatrix in the Renée Zellweger film Miss Potter. She was just 12 at the time.
Lucy went on to play Margaret Dashwood in the period drama series Sense & Sensibility, Sister Lucia in Borgia, and Angelica Bell in Life in Squares opposite Playing Nice star James Norton.
In 2017, she portrayed Allison Adams in the Naomi Watts drama series Gypsy, before going on to play Astrid Sloan in The Politician, Jean Courtney in The Ipcress File, and Frankie Derwent in Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
She's been in dozens of good films, too. These include the award-winning Let Me Go, Murder on the Orient Express, Bohemian Rhapsody, and The Pale Blue Eye. Most recently, she played Harriet Gibbons in the romcom The Greatest Hits, and Proust Barbie in the acclaimed Barbie film.
Toby Jones portrays Ruth's solicitor John Bickford
TV favourite Toby Jones stars as Ruth's solicitor John Bickford, who fights for Ruth in court. Of course, Toby's known for his recent role as Alan Bates, former sub-postmaster and fighter for justice, in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
London-born Toby, 58, is one of the most bankable stars in TV and film as a result of his ever-reliable performances. He's been on our screens since 1992, when he played a small role on the film Orlando.
Since then, he's starred in multiple films, including Captain America: The First Avenger, and its sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Toby played Marvel supervillain Arnim Zola.
He also played Truman Capote in Infamous, Claudius Smith in The Hunger Games, Mr. Eversoll in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Basil Shaw in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
On TV, Toby is famous for playing the role of Lance in Detectorists between 2014 and 2017 - which won him a BAFTA in 2018.
Other notable television roles include John Batley in Titanic, John Mayhew in The Witness for the Prosecution, Verloc in The Secret Agent, and David Pilcher/Dr Jenkins in eerie thriller Wayward Pines.
Harry Potter fans will know Toby provided the voice of house-elf Dobby in Chamber of Secrets (2002), as well as sequel Deathly Hallow Part 1 (2010).
More recently, Toby played DCS Dennis Hoban in Yorkshire Ripper drama The Long Shadow, and Alan Bates in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office.
Laurie Davidson plays Ruth's lover and victim David Blakely
London-born actor Laurie Davidson, 32, portrays the controversial figure of David Blakeley, Ruth Ellis' lover and eventual murder victim, in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on ITV.
He's been on our screens ever since 2014 when he popped up in the teen film Vampire Academy. Three years later, he bagged arguably his most significant role to date when he played William Shakespeare in the 10-part TV series Will. The drama centred on the lost years of young William Shakespeare after his arrival to London in 1589.
Laurie went on to play George in Paramount+ thriller Guilty Party, and Dylan in The Road Trip. Other notable roles include the Earl of Somerset in Mary & George, Lt. Nash in Masters of the Air, and Mark Brewer in The Sandman.
He's been in several films, too. Laurie played Michael Lewis in the 2017 film Diana and I, Hans Taub in the Helen Mirren movie The Good Liar, and Mr. Mistoffelees in the rather awful musical Cats (but don't hold that against him).
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story cast - Mark Stanley plays Desmond Cussen
Yorkshire-born Mark Stanley, 36, stars as Desmond Cussen, Ruth's devoted admirer and sometime lover who becomes caught up in Ruth's toxic love triangle alongside Blakely.
The actor is perhaps best known for playing abusive husband and eventual killer Rob Hepworth in the final series of Happy Valley.
Mark has been on our screens ever since 2012, but we all took notice when he portrayed Grenn in the major HBO series Game of Thrones. He went on to play Bill Sikes in Dickensian between 2015 and 2016, and PC Andrew Powell in the powerful Sean Bean drama Broken in 2017. Roles in Love, Lies and Records, Little Women, and The Little Drummer Girl followed.
In 2019, he took on the role of Lord Babington in the ITV series Sanditon. Mark then shed the period costumes for a police badge, when he played police detective Andy Craig in the miniseries Honour in 2020 opposite Keeley Hawes. Other significant roles include Colin Caffell in White House Farm, Hugo Duffy in Criminal: UK, and Henry VIII in Anne Boleyn.
The Bay fans might recognise him as Warren Pryce from series 4 in 2022. That same year, he played Mark Darwin in The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe. A year later, he portrayed journalist Dan Davies in the Jimmy Savile drama The Reckoning.
More recently, actor Mark Stanley has played DI Thom Youngblood, Lana's ex-boyfriend, in Trigger Point series 1 and 2. Viewers will know DCI Youngblood fell to his death after being pushed down a lift shaft.
Toby Stephens plays Ruth's defence barrister Melford Stevenson QC
London-born Toby Stephens, 55, stars as Ruth's defence barrister Melford Stevenson QC in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on ITV1.
Toby Stephens recently played "eligible" family lawyer Archie Moore in the Barcelona-set spin-off to The Split. He is the son of late actress Maggie Smith, and has been on our screens for more than three decades.
Film fans will know Toby as the villain Gustav Graves in Bond thriller Die Another Day, as well as roles in Hunter Killer, The Machine, and 13 Hours.
His most famous TV roles include Kim Philby in Cambridge Spies, Rochester in Jane Eyre, Prince John in Robin Hood, and DI Jack Armstrong in Vexed.
Other notable TV roles include Captain Flint in Black Sails, John Robinson in Lost in Space, and Damian Cray in Alex Rider. More recently, Toby portrayed brilliantly bonkers dad Lionel in One Day, and Poseidon in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
McDonald & Dodds fans will recognise him from 2024 episode The Rule of 3, in which he played Mark Holgate.
Nigel Havers plays his real life grandfather Judge Havers
Veteran actor Nigel Havers takes on the role of Judge Havers - his real life grandfather! - in the Ruth Ellis dramatisation on ITV.
Middlesex-born Nigel, 73, is an actor and presenter, who has been on our TV screens since his first role in 1970. His first acting job was in the radio series Mrs Dale's Diary and he subsequently went on to work in theatre and TV.
He is perhaps most famous for playing Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire, a role which earned him a BAFTA nomination.
He also portrayed Dr Rawlins in the 1987 Steven Spielberg war drama Empire of the Sun, and Ronny in the 1984 David Lean epic A Passage to India.
Nigel's best known TV roles include Tom Latimer in the British TV comedy series Don't Wait Up, and Lewis Archer in Coronation Street. More recently, he's played Lord Whitecroft in Netflix's The Gentlemen, Lester in Better Things, and Roger in Finding Alice.
He's also presented over the years, including stints on This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Posh Hotels with Sally and Nigel, and Secrets of the National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh. He now hosts The Bidding Room on BBC One.
In 2010, Nigel took part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! but only lasted 10 days. He quit the show after a series of electric shocks, and admits he still "has nightmares" about the experience.
Nigel is the second son of Sir Michael Havers (later Baron Havers), who was a barrister who became Attorney General for England and Wales and, briefly, Lord Chancellor in the Conservative Government in the 1980s.
In fact, many of Nigel's immediate family had prominent legal careers, so his role in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story should be one he's comfortable with! His grandfather, High Court judge Sir Cecil Havers, sentenced Ruth Ellis to death. Nigel has since called for a posthumous pardon.
Arthur Darvill stars as divorce lawyer Victor Mishcon in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story
Birmingham-born Arthur Darvill portrays Ruth's charismatic divorce lawyer Victor Mishcon in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on ITV. He took up the fight for her reprieve.
The 42-year-old is perhaps most famous for playing Rory Williams in Doctor Who between 2010 and 2012. Or maybe you know him as Rev. Paul Coates in the brilliant detective drama Broadchurch. He appeared in all three series of the David Tennant series, and was the prime suspect for a while.
Between 2016 and 2021, Arthur portrayed Captain Rip Hunter in the time-travelling TV series Legends of Tomorrow. Other notable TV roles include Tip Dorrit in the period drama Little Dorrit, The Duke of Buckingham in The White Queen, and Vernon Hunter in World on Fire.
Most recently, Arthur starred as Mr. Ernest Wantage in the Lenny Henry drama Three Little Birds. He's also been in multiple films, including Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Robin Hood, Our Boys, And Mrs, and Brides.
Juliet Stevenson portrays Dr Charity Taylor, Governess of Holloway Prison
Juliet Stevenson, 68, joins the cast of ITV's A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story as Dr Charity Taylor, the Governess of Holloway Prison.
The Essex-born star of TV, theatre and film is well known for her numerous role, spanning more than 45 years.
She got her start as Barbara in The Mallens back in 1980, before going on to play Catherine Heathcote in Place of Execution, Lady Elms in The Hour, and Charlotte in White Heat.
TV fans will also recognise her as Lady Cassandra Eltham in Riveria, Flora Matlock in The Politician's Wife, and Clem in The Village. More recently, she played Dorothy Venn in The Long Call, as part of the Barum Brethren community, as well as Matilda in Wolf, and Dr. Helena Goldberg in Professor T.
Film fans will recognise her as Paula in the 2002 comedy Bend It Like Beckham, where she played the mum to Keira Knightley's character.
Other well-known film roles include Mrs Elton in the 1996 version of Jane Austen's Emma, Sonia in Diana, and Mrs Squeers in Nicholas Nickleby.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis cast includes Joe Armstrong stars as DCI Davies
Joe Armstrong stars as DCI Davies, the detective in charge of Ruth's case. Of course, TV fans will know the London-born actor, 46, is the son of Alun Armstrong, but very much famous in his own right.
Happy Valley fans will know Joe as drug dealer and Ann Gallagher's kidnapper Ashley Cowgill in series 1. The actor is also known for playing Samuel Washington in Gentleman Jack, also penned by HV genius Sally Wainwright.
Joe first popped up as Richard Lloyd in Between the Sheets in 2003 which starred his real-life dad, Sherwood actor Alun.
He went on to star in the likes of Waking the Dead, Blackpool, Midsomer Murders, and Party Animals.
Between 2006 and 2009, he played Allan A Dale in the cast of Robin Hood, before going on to play Danny Sparks in Land Girls, and Ben Somers in Public Enemies.
In 2014, he played Ashley Cowgill in the first series of Happy Valley. Other notable roles include Bairstow in The Village, Gildas in Britannia, Nick Shelton in Black Mirror.
More recently, Joe played Dean Metcalf in The Bay series 4, and Alexander Dosman in Harlan Coben's Fool Me Once on Netflix.
Who else in the cast of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story?
Actress Bessie Carter plays Carole Findlater. She's most famous for playing Prudence Featherington, and later Prudence Dankworth, in Netflix saga Bridgerton.
She's also known for portraying Poppy Hunter in I Hate Suzie, Violet Woodhouse in Beecham House, Evie Wilcox in Howards End, and Margaret Gidman in Cranford.
Carole Findlater and her husband Ant were snobbish friends of David Blakely who disliked Ruth.
Actress Amanda Drew portrays Bertha. She's best known for playing psychopath Dr. May Wright in EastEnders. She also starred as Ruth in The Outlaws, and CS Cath McLean in The Gold.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story cast list:
Lucy Boynton takes the lead role as Ruth Ellis.
Toby Jones portrays Ruth's solicitor John Bickford.
Laurie Davidson plays David Blakely.
Mark Stanley plays Desmond Cussen.
Toby Stephens plays Ruth's defence barrister Melford Stevenson QC.
Nigel Havers plays Judge Havers.
Arthur Darvill portrays Victor Mishcon.
Juliet Stevenson portrays Dr Charity Taylor, Governess of Holloway Prison.
Joe Armstrong stars as DCI Davies.
Bessie Carter plays Carole Findlater.
Amanda Drew portrays Bertha.
Newcomer Israr Azam plays Cooch Behar.
Audrey Brisson - aka Sister Angelique in Outlander - stars as Jacqueline Dyer, Ruth's trusted and loyal friend.
Newcomer Raye Cooper is Georgina Ellis.
Darren Charman, who played Bernard in Changing Ends, is a foreman.
Jobbing actor Pierre Bergman is a reporter.
Jack Staddon, aka Lord Lidington in Harlots, stars as Clive Gunnell.
The Crown's Ed Sayer portrays Anthony Findlater.
Doctors' Adam Lawrence is DI Peter Gill.
Peep Show's Tony Wadham stars as Arthur Neilson
Rowan Robinson, who recently played Katie Wells in Passenger, is Ruth's friend Vickie Martin.
Good Omens' Gloria Obianyo plays Joy Okoro.
My Lady Jane's Christian Patterson portrays Morris Conley.
