HBO Max 'The Girl Before': 5 things you did not know about Gugu Mbatha-Raw

The lives of Jane Cavendish and Emma Matthews eerily intertwine in a house that holds secrets of its mysterious maker Edward
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jane Cavendish in 'The Girl Before' (HBO Max)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jane Cavendish in 'The Girl Before' (HBO Max)

It's officially February and the chilly month is being made better with thrills as HBO Max is set to bring a brand new psychological thriller to screens very soon! 'The Girl Before' follows a captivating tale of interwoven stories of three people and is set in a minimalist house.

Based on the novel by JP Delaney, the HBO Max show will see Jane Cavendish and Emma Matthews live in the same house built by enigmatic architect Edward who has set rules in place. As the past and present intertwine both women find disturbing facts about the house and its owner that form the crux of this thriller. Led by an award-winning cast of talented actors, 'The Girl Before' is set to be a stunner. Read on to know more about the actors who will bring to life the chilling tale.

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Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jane Cavendish

Gugu Mbatha-Raw is an English actress who started out playing minor roles on television series like 'Marple', 'Doctor Who' and 'Bad Girls'. She also partakes in theater and one of her earlier breakthroughs in drama was 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Royal Exchange Theatre, for which she won a nomination for best actress in the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. Alongside her work on stage, she also took off in the film industry with her receiving praise for her role in the film, 'Belle', and was nominated for numerous awards for her performance. 2014 saw Mbatha-Raw recognized by Elle Magazine during the Women in Hollywood Awards, honoring women for their outstanding achievements in film and was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2015.

Her works include 'Jupiter Ascending', 'Beauty and the Beast', 'A Wrinkle in Time', 'The Morning Show', 'Black Mirror', and more. She was recently also been starring in the hit Disney+ series 'Loki' as well. The skilful actress was also appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama. Mbatha-Raw will essay one of the protagonists, Jane Cavendish, in the HBO Max drama.



 

David Oyelowo as Edward

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo is a well-known British-American actor and producer who began his career in 1998 and made his television debut in an episode of 'Maisie Raine'. He also began a stage career in 1999 after he was offered a season with the Royal Shakespeare Company and went on to become best known for his stage performance as King Henry VI. Some of his work in film and television include 'The Help', 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', 'Jack Reacher', 'A Wrinkle in Time', 'Interstellar', 'Les Misérables'. The talented actor is most prominently known for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in the biographical drama film 'Selma', Peter Snowdin in the 'Nightingale' as well as Louis Gaines in 'The Butler' for which he received critical acclaim as well as multiple award nominations.

Oyelowo's accolades consist of a Critics' Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a BAFTA Award. He even was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama. He will star as Edward, an enigmatic architect in 'The Girl Before' 



 

Other cast members

The rest of the cast consists of Jessica Plummer as Emma Matthews, Ben Hardy as Simon, Ian Conningham as DI James Clarke, Amanda, Drew as Carol. Mark Stanley as Saul, Rakhee Thakrar as Mia, Ben Addis as Peter Creed and Natasha Atherton as Leona.

'The Girl Before' is set to release all four episodes on February 10, 2022, You can watch it on HBO Max. 

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