'I'd Vote For Her': Suranne Jones Lifts The Lid On Her Prime Minister Character In Netflix's Hostage

Suranne Jones as prime minister Abigail Dalton in HostageThere’s no question that Netflix’s new thriller Hostage is the show that’s got everyone talking right now.After premiering on Thursday, the five-part British drama was immediately hailed as ideal one-sitting binge-viewing by critics, and quickly shot to the top of Netflix’s most-watched chart in the UK, ahead of other recent hits like Wednesday and Love Is Blind.Led by Suranne Jones, Hostage centres around a British prime minister who is already walking the difficult line between staying true to her values amid a national crisis, when she’s backed into a corner after her husband is kidnapped and held at ransom.Complicating matters even further is the arrival of the French president, played by Oscar nominee Julie Delpy, who has some baggage of her own that quickly begs pulled into the whirlwind around the British PM.To coincide with the release, HuffPost UK spoke to both Suranne and Julie about putting together their two very different characters, the power that drives their fictitious leaders and comparisons with real-world politicians…Suranne, you play Abigail Dalton in Hostage, the newly-elected British prime minister. How has your work in Hostage changed how you view the role of the prime minister, or the job?Suranne Jones: I’ve played a lot of strong female characters, but with this, the stakes are so high, and the balancing is so interesting. As a person, she’s so different to Toussaint [played by Delpy], as well. But I feel like she’s got hope. She’s a hopeful prime minister. And I feel like I would vote for her. Would you?I would, especially at the beginning when we first meet her, she’s very easy to root forSJ: Yeah, until she meets [Toussaint].Julie Delpy: [Dalton is] an idealist. I mean, [Toussaint] is kind of the opposite. [She] married, not for love, but for business. For power.Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy in the first episode of The HostageSuranne, you mentioned the strong female characters you’ve played before, but with Abigail, it’s about more than strength, it’s about power…SJ: That is the difference, yeah. Power is… you fight to get in a position like this, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime situation, and so, there is something at play, where you’re making these huge decisions. And you want to cling on, because you finally got there and you want to make a change. And [Toussaint] calls it out in [Dalton] very early on, because [she] sees it.JD: [Dalton] could have let go, and [she doesn’t]. And I think [she and Toussaint] have that in common. Even though they’re very, very different, they got to power and they want to keep on going on with.SJ: And it’s such a singular situation that only they know about, and that’s the beauty of having the two female leads. It’s like, they’re there at the top of their game, and so there’s only the two of them that understand that.You said that you would vote for Abigail Dalton, what do you think politicians today could learn from her?SJ: [laughs] Oh god! Abigail wants to have an open, truthful conversation with her people, with the public. I think that’s the thing that drives her. And I think that she has to learn that you can’t do that, because you terrify everybody. And also, you can’t control… she’s one person, but she’s not. There are many [parts to her].I think it’s such a difficult task, but I like the hope [she has, and] that that’s what she wants, to be able to be truthful – which is a huge theme between [Dalton and Toussaint], as well.Julie Delpy and Suranne Jones' characters appear to be polar opposites when they first meet in HostageJulie, you play the French president, Vivienne Toussaint. When we first meet her, she’s immediately touted as this controversial figure, and we’re told that she’s been pandering to the far-right. Obviously, the comparisons to Marine Le Pen are right there…JD: I think she’s very different, actually, from Marine Le Pen. Marine Le Pen is in the far-right to start with, it’s her DNA, basically, because of her father. So I think [Toussaint] actually starts off as someone who’s more centre, possibly even a little bit left, and then she slowly slides to the right as she’s being pushed and pushed and pushed by her husband, by the media, by public opinion, whatever, to stay in power.So, she’s actually very different from Marine Le Pen. And that’s why Marine Le Pen was not at all the reference to the character. There are other politicians you could think of – not necessarily women. I didn’t want to make her inspired by another politician specifically, because this is fiction, and I wanted [the character] to be something unique in its own way. She’s very different from some of the French politicians right now.SJ: She’s also playing the long game, because she wants other things, but she’s having to go round, to go come back…JD: And it’s a tough game she’s playing because… when you go with what people want you to be, can you go back to being yourself, without paying the price?Julie Delpy wanted to avoid taking inspiration from real politicians when putting together her character Vivienne Toussaint in HostageKnowing Toussaint is going to be compared to the likes of Le Pen by some viewers, does that make it more difficult when you’re putting the character together?JD: Because I didn’t want to be inspired by [politicians], I thought more of people of power that I know, that are not necessarily in politics, but that are very imposing [with] their power on people. And I know a few people that are dealing with power, not necessarily inspired by just women. Someone who walks in, and right away, at one point [Dalton says] ‘wow’. That’s how I wanted the character to be perceived at first. At first! Which makes it more interesting later when you see that she has her own cracks, and hidden [is a] more sensitive and risk-taking person in her personal life. But I wanted you first to think, ’OK, so that’s what she is’. But then you discover slowly that’s not what she is. And [that’s achieved] with the camera work and the clothes and everything…SJ: That’s the thing – what Abigail perceives Toussaint is. [stutters] She literally can’t get her words out, and then she does that awful French at the beginning… apologies to anyone from France…JD: And I don’t answer right away!SJ: No, you just stare!Abigail Dalton and Vivienne Toussaint's first meeting in Hostage is a rather uncomfortable oneSuranne, as an executive producer on the show, how involved in the shaping of the character of Abigail Dalton were you, when it comes to things like her wardrobe, her hair, her accent…SJ: So involved! I think the beauty of our brilliant writer Matt Charman is that he knows, none of us can do what he does. So, he has this confidence that he knows we can put all of our elements in and we can add to the script and we can be collaborative. So he’s really good at saying, ‘what do you think?’.For the clothes, I wanted some high street stuff, some designer stuff… and British designers. Some fab coats. [Toussaint’s] outfits are ace, too. And [Dalton’s] accent… how does she speak when she’s in the Commons, how does she speak when she’s with her family, how does she speak when she’s pissed off? You know, she suddenly has a burst of swearing.I felt like all of those elements [were important] because she hasn’t got to the point where she’s in control. So, it was fun to play all those things. She’s not used to the world stage in that way, and I think going from a working politician to being in the [prime minister] position, it’s so different. To be on the world stage is huge.I know that you met with a lot of politicians as part of your research, what was the most eye-opening part of that experience? And how did that impact the way you approached playing Abigail?SJ: I asked one question, ‘did they have a therapist?’.JD: [giggles]SJ: And that’s what they did. They just laughed at me. They were just like, ‘no’. And I just assumed, obviously wrongly, that you would have someone that you could talk to. That [realisation] was the big one for me. How do you take on such a role without having that [support]?JD: A lot of them should have therapists.SJ: I think that is the next show now. In Treatment With… other politicians. Let’s make that.JD: I think it would be helpful for them to have therapists… but I think they have too much at stake.SJ: Imagine that therapy session. You wouldn’t want to be the therapist.JD: And maybe you’d give away some secrets…SJ: Maybe you can’t!Imagine Abigail’s therapist by the end of episode five…SJ: Oh she’d be shitting herself. Every time [Dalton] came through the door, she’d be like ‘what now? Oh god! Oh Jesus!’.All five episodes of Hostage are now streaming on Netflix. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.MORE NETFLIX NEWS:These Are Our 12 Top Picks Of The New TV Shows And Films To Stream On Netflix In August 2025Critics Are Saying The Same Thing About Netflix's Adaptation Of The Thursday Murder ClubNetflix Has Finally Made An Announcement About The Future Of Dept. Q

Comments

Breaking news

Mary Berry's Unexpected Secret Ingredient For The Best Cottage Pie

Huffpost uk

Comments

Similar News

Luisa Zissman reveals she smashed up her childrens' iPads in front of them because they 'p****d her off' - as controversial post sparks huge debate

Doctor reveals the common shower product she'd NEVER use: 'It's filled with bacteria'

I thought I'd finally found a happy ending with a man I'd known for years - then I realised I had married a 'monster'

Tulisa: 'If I Was A Nepo Baby, I'd Have Been The Nation's Sweetheart, Instead I Was The Chav From Camden'

'I'd love to be a WWE wrestler' - Guehi in his own words

Congratulations first and then “You should be in the sewer …” Director of 'Dev D' on Lord Hanuman's film

Isak saga 'lose-lose' but I'd welcome him back into squad - Howe

Lucy Connolly's jail torment revealed: Truth about the middle-class mother's 377 days in prison - and how one officer said she was the most petrified inmate they'd ever seen

Get last remainder of product out with 'genius' hack people wish they'd tried sooner

'I'm an Aussie who moved to Scotland – there are three reasons I'd never go back'

Tulisa reveals she 'had a gut feeling she'd lose it all' as star reveals she went from £500k dream home deposit to becoming homeless during drug sting nightmare

Dad thought he'd caught daughter's nursery bug - but the truth was far more sinister

Fergie's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was 'very, very close': Royal biographer claims disgraced financier paid 'a lot of' her bills - and Duchess stayed friends with him for five YEARS after claiming they'd parted ways

Machete-wielding teen thought he'd get 'slap on hand', but judge had other plans

GB snowboarder told she'd never walk again 'felt like bag of bones'

Exclusive: Israeli MK Barred from Australia over Fears He’d ‘Radicalize Muslims’ — Slams Gov’t for ‘Caving to Terror’

'Grotesque' man rapes woman - then claims she'd dreamed the whole thing

M&D's to host tribute concert to country's favourite female artists

I Thought I'd Stay In My Tiny Christian Community Forever. Then One Night At Church, I Saw Something That Changed Everything.

The Papers: 'D-Day at White House' and 'Superman star' dies aged 85

Breaking news

Mary Berry's Unexpected Secret Ingredient For The Best Cottage Pie

Sorry But Here's What The World's Most Famous Attractions Will Look Like In 2050

Angela Rayner Has Managed To Trigger The Tories By Buying A House

Boy, 15, and man, 54, arrested after ‘arson attack’ on east London restaurant

August bank holiday update for benefit and pension payment dates

What to know: Four ways ICE is training new agents and scaling up

Man dies of head injuries after ‘workplace accident’ at funfair

At least 1 dead in Moscow shopping center explosion, 3 injured

Epstein victim’s family says Ghislaine Maxwell got to ‘rewrite history’ in DOJ interviews: Live updates

Mediterranean rescues find 3 Sudanese sisters dead on an overcrowded migrant boat

What is Vibrio vulnificus? Symptoms explained as beachgoers warned about flesh-eating bacteria

Two arrested including boy, 15, over ‘arson attack’ on London restaurant

Great white sharks are going north. Here's what the numbers say

Great white sharks head north, following seals and alarming beachgoers

Why did Donald Trump have a strange patch on his hand?

Ibiza Final Boss makes surprise Creamfields appearance – and his hair is on point

Head of traveller family laid to rest in ‘solid gold’ coffin in South London

My ex Charles Bronson wants to marry me again & made shocking proposal from cell… but I have a demand he may never meet

Moscow blames Ukraine drone attack for nuclear power plant fire

Angela Rayner could block Sadiq Khan from running to be MP while mayor through new legislation

Moment hot air balloon lands on street in front of stunned residents

Israeli forces kill 4 more aid seekers as northern Gaza braces for looming offensive

Zelensky thanks King Charles for ‘inspirational’ letter sent to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day

Little legs, big dreams: More than 100 teams compete in Lithuania's international Corgi race

Trump ups number of wars he claims to have ended from 7 to 10: ‘If you think about pre-wars’

UK households are being urged to keep all used tea bags next week

Scots mum who waited 13 years to see baby's ashes recognised for helping grieving parents

HMRC warning for Vinted, Etsy and eBay users over 'criminal investigation'

Pharmacist denies making blunder in Labour contest after referring to himself as party 'candidate'

'My mum took snap of boy in shop mirror and was freaked out after looking at it'

Man arrested and charged over Glasgow 'robbery' after worker left in hospital

British cyclist forced into last-minute international dash to start line of major race

MP says she's received 'death threats' after 'misleading' video put out by neighbouring MP

Teacher uses discount code loophole to scam Asda out of £3000 worth of groceries

Duncan James 'splits' from boyfriend of six years as he 'quietly heals' on break-up getaway

Moment cliff collapses in front of startled kayaker captured on camera

Coldplay last-minute tickets, setlist, stage times, support acts and more as band hits Wembley

This Morning's Nick Ferrari marries longtime partner as I'm A Celeb star officiates

NHS doctor shares warning signs of heart attacks in women as they often go unnoticed

Grim plane secret staff won't tell you as on-board freebie is usually 'filthy'

What the late Queen REALLY thought of Trump - and truth behind viral Windsor video

Dog dies of heatstroke after doggy daycare staff make terrible common mistake

Alison Hammond, 50, is happier than ever with boyfriend David Putman, 28, and 'can't imagine her life without him' as 'friends predict engagement is round the corner'

Revealed: The VERY well connected couple who made way for William and Kate to move into their Forest Lodge 'forever home'

Ukraine's Bucha Butchers revenge bombing: Military intelligence in Ukraine 'kills three Putin soldiers' involved in 'torture, mutilation and rape atrocities' in 2022

I visited Diana's favourite curry house and now understand why the Princess had the dish shipped down to London from Bradford to enjoy with Imran Khan

Chaos as BA removes 20 passengers from flight before take off

Revealed: How fraudster mum-of-two BEGGED council for new house after claiming she was homeless... but actually owned a FIVE-BED home

Horror at the circus as daredevil is seriously injured again in Globe of Death stunt weeks after previous accident

Friends who switched places for DNA paternity test in plot to avoid paying child maintenance get suspended sentence

Nelly Furtado, 46, delights fans with Noughties nostalgia as she storms the stage in a racy cut out top and mini skirt at the Big Feastival

Jacqueline Jossa and hubby Dan Osborne enjoy family holiday - months after a make-or-break getaway saved their marriage following brief split

Why Sudan is At War (Again): Battle Board breaks down the latest round of fighting between rival warlords and asks if the country will ever find peace

I'm a fashion expert - here's the anti-ageing tailoring trick every woman over 50 needs to know (and the three mistakes that are making you look older)

Ibiza Final Boss makes surprise on-stage appearance as he parties with DJ at Creamfields

Undertaker who was blasted for making a funeral 'all about himself' with a 'creepy' march in front of grieving family defends actions

I'm an ex-burglar and these are the simple tricks used by criminals to target homes - and why you should NEVER advertise that you have a dog