Close will play “a killer with a tortured past” in the six-part drama

Glenn Close is set to play a ruthless killer in Maud (w/t), a new drama for Channel 4 based on stories by Swedish crime writer Helene Tursten.

From Playground and Sony Pictures Television, the drama is from sibling writers Nina and Moses Raine and adapted from Tursten’s short story collections, An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good, and An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed.

Morenike Williams is the series producer; the executive producers are Scott Huff and Colin Callender for Playground with Close, Nina Raine and Moses Raine. It was commissioned for Channel 4 by Gwawr Lloyd, acting head of drama at Channel 4, and drama commissioning editor Rebecca Holdsworth.

Close plays Maud Oldcastle, described as a “hilariously brusque, cantankerous and ruthless older woman.” But those are just her “nice qualities” — she’s also a “killer with a tortured past.”

Determined to break from a lifetime spent caring for her sister, Maud sets out to claim a long-overdue second act, but a suspicious detective and an unrelenting world built for youth may soon discover just how far she’ll go to protect her freedom.

“I am honored to be working with Channel 4, Sony and Playground to bring this highly original series to life,” Close said. “Nina and Moses Raine are deliciously brilliant writers and Maud Oldcastle is not like any character I have played before. I am thrilled to be a part of such a stellar team.”

Gwawr Lloyd, acting head of drama at Channel 4, added: “’Maud’ is a deliciously dark and daring drama and the amazing Glenn Close will bring a thrilling complexity to the role. We’re delighted to be working with Nina, Moses, Playground and Sony Pictures Television to bring this unique character to life and we can’t wait for audiences to meet Maud Oldcastle.”

“’Maud’ is precisely the kind of bold, character-focused drama we’re passionate about creating. Having the extraordinary Glenn Close join us to embody this remarkable character is a dream come true,” added Huff, joint managing director at Playground. “Nina and Moses Raine have written a distinctive crime drama that explores modern themes with razor-sharp wit and insight.

“Channel 4’s commitment to bold storytelling makes them the ideal partner for this series, and we’re grateful to Gwawr Lloyd and Rebecca Holdsworth for their support. We’re equally thrilled to partner with Sony, whose backing and commitment have been pivotal in bringing this series to life.”

“Glenn Close 2012 1” by Georges Biard is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.