Film - I Am Ruth

Channel 4 has released a first look image of Academy Award winner Kate Winslet starring alongside Mia Threapleton in I Am Ruth, which will air on Channel 4 later this year...

Press Release

I Am Ruth is a feature-length instalment of the BAFTA-nominated and female-led drama anthology series I Am, created by BAFTA winning filmmaker Dominic Savage. This two hour special is produced by Emmy-winning Me+You Productions in association with PGA award winning Juggle Productions (Executive Producers of Mare of Easttown).

The fictional storyline for I Am Ruth was developed and co-authored by Dominic Savage and Kate Winslet, who together have conceived a story for our times about the endemic mental health crisis affecting young people.

The film offers an honest and authentic portrayal of a mother and daughter’s increasingly strained relationship. Winslet stars as Ruth, a loving and concerned mother who witnesses her teenage daughter Freya (Mia Threapleton) retreating into herself as she becomes more and more consumed by the pressures of social media.

Kate Winslet said, “The collaborative and sensitive way in which Dominic Savage goes about creating and filming each episode of 'I Am' is challenging, rewarding and completely immersive. The actors become these roles, and there is simply no room for pretending. It's a working environment that any actor would give anything to be a part of, and I can safely say with my hand on heart that I will never forget the things we learnt as we made this piece. The low key, quiet nature in which we put this together is how I aspire to work all the time. Often creative environments can be big and overwhelming, but part of Dominic's directorial process is to keep things to a bare minimum and just focus on the actors and the world we are creating alongside him, and with his unwavering support. It was a privilege and an inspiration to work with Dominic Savage. He's simply extraordinary.”

Dominic Savage added, “Creating I Am Ruth for Channel 4 has been an honour as well a sublime creative experience for me. Collaborating closely with the incredible Kate Winslet to bring this important story surrounding child mental health to the screen has been an absolute highlight of my filmmaking career. It encapsulates everything that I love about making drama - experimental, raw, instinctive, with fearless acting, and above all, about something that affects all of us in some way. I believe that many parents and children will relate to our story of immense difficulty and hope.”

I Am Ruth follows the success of two previous I Am series, offering distinctive single films exploring the experience of women in moments that are emotionally raw, thought-provoking and personal, which have seen a tremendous response to the series from the public and critics alike. I Am series two recently won a C21 Drama Award and was nominated for both a BAFTA Award (Best Single Drama), and a Broadcast Award (Best Single Drama). I Am series one was nominated for a BAFTA (Leading Actress – Samantha Morton), two Broadcast Awards, a Royal Television Society Award and a C21 International Drama Award, and won a WFTV Award.

I Am became Channel 4’s most successful new 10pm drama in six years when it debuted in August 2019, with Vicky McClure starring in I Am Nicola; Samantha Morton starring in I Am Kirsty; and Gemma Chan starring in I Am Hannah. Series two was equally successful, starring Suranne Jones in I Am Victoria, Letitia Wright in I Am Danielle and Lesley Manville in I Am Maria.

I Am Ruth is created, written and directed by Dominic Savage and the story is by Dominic Savage and Kate Winslet. It is produced by Me+You Productions in association with Juggle Productions. Executive Producers are Dominic Savage, Kate Winslet and Richard Yee. The film is produced by Me+You co-founder Krishnendu Majumdar and Josh Hyams. I Am Ruth was commissioned by Caroline Hollick and Gemma Boswell for Channel 4 as the first, feature length episode from series three of I Am (with further instalments yet to be announced). I Am Ruth is co-funded by Sky Studios and international sales are handled by NBCU Distribution.

Image - Channel 4