Thursday Murder Club members introduced
Netflix has published an article introducing the Thursday Murder Club members, as well as showing how other characters in the strong cast are connected. While the focus is on Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, we learn about several of the others.
Helen Mirren as Elizabeth
With her natural authority and dry wit, Elizabeth is the leader of the club. Highly intelligent, fearless, resourceful, and determined, she’s coy when it comes to the subject of her past career, which she describes only as something in “international relations.” Elizabeth certainly has some useful sources of information to call on. She’s extremely loyal to those she loves, particularly her husband, Stephen (Jonathan Pryce). Sadly, Elizabeth is shielding him from the knowledge that he is in the early stages of dementia. [an echo of his character in Slow Horses?]
Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie
Ron is the real comedian of the gang. He’s into sports and supports West Ham United Football Club. Once a militant and high-profile trade union activist — he’s dubbed “Red Ron” by the press — even in retirement he still can’t resist a fight for what he feels is right. He’s been married several times, though he’s now a widower. His real pride and joy is his son, Jason (Tom Ellis), an ex-champion boxer turned TV celebrity, who’s a regular visitor to Coopers Chase [the retirement home where the film is based]. Ron is also good friends with Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), whom he fondly calls ‘Ibsy.’
Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif
A confirmed bachelor, Ibrahim is a respected psychiatrist of Egyptian descent. He’s soft-spoken, kind, polite, empathetic, and cultured. He’s also highly intelligent, analytical, a little cautious sometimes, and occasionally a bit pedantic. But his insights are highly valued by his friends. His closest friend is Ron (Brosnan).
Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft
Ex-nurse Joyce is a newcomer to Coopers Chase. “You learn about everybody through her eyes,” says Imrie. The mother of Joanna (Ingrid Oliver), a highly successful hedge fund manager, Joyce is recently widowed. Kind, thoughtful, chatty, warm, empathetic, and eager to please — particularly when it comes to Elizabeth (Mirren) — Joyce draws people to her.
The Thursday Murder Club arrives on Netflix this Thursday.