Laura Bayston, the actress playing Kate McCann in the new Channel 5 drama about the Madeleine McCann case, said "every day was a challenge" filming the series.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO!, the East London-born actor opened up about starring in the one-off film, Under Suspicion: Kate McCann, which dramatises the police investigation into the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.
© 5 Broadcasting Limited / Orchard StudiosDrawn directly from official statements and recorded testimony, the factual drama depicts the 11-hour investigation of Madeleine's mother Kate by Portuguese investigators, after which she was declared a formal suspect.
"Every day was hard," Laura said. "Every day was challenging because there's no part of this story that isn't challenging on an emotional and physical level.
"It's weird because when you're going through something quite emotional, it affects your physicality as well, so you can become quite drained."
© 5 Broadcasting Limited / Orchard StudiosLaura revealed that the one scene she found most difficult to film was when Kate is presented with an offer by the Portuguese police, which is to admit guilt. "It was incredibly difficult to hear that question relayed and to respond as Kate.
"It was a real punch to the gut," she added.
The documentary comes just weeks after the case made headlines once again, with Metropolitan Police detectives pushing to bring German suspect Christian Brueckner to Britain to stand trial for the abduction and murder of Madeleine.
While Kate and Gerry had no involvement in the drama, they were made aware of the film.
© Getty ImagesLaura, whose previous acting credits include Killing Eve and Casualty, said she followed the story when it broke back in 2007. "I've got children that are grown up now, but at the time, they were a very similar age," explained Laura. "It did really affect me at the time. I thought it was horrifying and shocking and it still shocks me and horrifies me to this day."
When it came to preparing for the role, Laura said she watched "every documentary I could get my hands on".
"I wanted to know everything I could know. I wanted to study Kate as a mother, as someone that's going through such a horrendous experience."
© 5 Broadcasting Limited / Orchard StudiosThe actress also said she "felt a responsibility to the script" and to "be authentic and truthful to the role". "And that's of a mum that is going through the most unimaginable pain and grieving process that one can only imagine," she said.
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann airs on Wednesday 20 May at 9pm on 5.
