Love, betrayal, murder, death. The new limited series Love & Death explores all these in its telling of the true story of Candy Montgomery, a woman accused of murdering her lover’s wife. Written by David E Kelley and directed by Leslie Linka Glatter, the series is sure to keep us hooked from one episode to the next. Another reason we’re tuning in and sure to stay hooked? The amazing cast. We are just obsessed with these names and cannot wait to watch them delve into the lives of these characters. Let’s take a look at who will be gracing our screens in this highly-anticipated show.
Elizabeth Olsen
Many will know Olsen as Wanda Maximoff aka the Scarlet Witch from the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and it certainly takes up a significant chunk of her résumé – but this talented actress has done much more than her well-known superhero role. She hit the ground running with her debut feature film, with the lead role in the psychological drama Martha Marcy May Marlene. In Love & Death she portrays Candy Montgomery, and Olsen is no stranger to playing real-life characters. In Kill Your Darlings she played Jack Kerouac’s wife Edie Parker and in I Saw the Light she portrayed musician Audrey Williams. Olsen’s also tickled funny bones with roles in Kodachrome, Peace Love & Misunderstanding, and Ingrid Goes West, and made us tremble in horrors like Red Light and Silent House. Rest assured, the role of Candy Montgomery is in the hands of a seasoned pro.
Patrick Fugit
Playing Candy Montgomery’s husband is Patrick Fugit. Like Olsen, he made an equally impressive entrance into movies, making his feature debut with the starring role in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Kate Hudson may have received all the awards and accolades for her part, but this was just as much Fugit’s movie and shining moment. He went on to build a solid filmography and was most recently seen in Damien Chazelle’s acclaimed dramedy Babylon. He’s also no stranger to television, having battled demons as the lead character, Kyle Barnes, in Outcast.
Jesse Plemons
We will outright confess bias right here in stating that Plemons is an out-and-out highlight on this cast list. Acting from a young age, he made his mark as Landry Clarke in Friday Night Lights and really proved his mettle as the mild yet messed-up Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad. He went on to deliver incredible performances in I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Other People, The Power of the Dog, Judas and the Black Messiah, and Fargo season 2. Renowned for his dramatic roles, he surprised and delighted many with his hilarious turn as Gary Kingsbury in Game Night. In Love & Death he plays Betty Gore’s husband and Candy Montgomery’s lover, Allan Gore.
Lily Rabe
Any American Horror Story fan will instantly recognise Rabe. She’s proved her acting chops in the numerous and diverse roles she’s played in the anthology series from a twisted sister in AHS: Asylum to a free-spirited witch in AHS: Coven. She’s even played real-life characters in the series, portraying Aileen Wuornos in AHS: Hotel and Amelia Earhart in AHS: Double Feature. Outside of AHS, the real-life characters she’s portrayed are Liz Cheney in Vice and journalist Lorena Hickok in The First Lady. In Love & Death she plays the victim, Betty Gore. If you loved The Undoing, you’ll have loved her as Sylvia Steineitz. But whether she’s playing a no-nonsense lawyer or a whimsical witch, there’s no denying Rabe can do it all.
Krysten Ritter
Another Breaking Bad and superhero alumnus, Ritter is perhaps best known as Jane Margolis in the former and as Jessica Jones in Jessica Jones. We love her for the female-centred shows she’s made a habit of appearing in, such as Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 – and of course, Jessica Jones in which she plays a superhero turned private investigator. We got to see more of her TV roles when she reprised them for the Veronica Mars movie and the Breaking Bad spin-off film, El Camino. Another great film role of hers is as a cute and cool friendly vampire alongside fellow fang girl Alicia Silverstone in Amy Heckerling’s Vamps. In Love & Death, she plays Candy’s friend Sherry Cleckler.
Watch this amazing cast in Love & Death. The limited series starts with the first three episodes Express from the US on Friday 28 April from 03:00 on M-Net channel 101 and in prime time on Monday 1 May from 21:00.
Episodes will be available after airing on DStv Catch Up.