Exclusive: The British Star on Harlan Coben’s New Hit, the Universal Appeal of Ghost Stories, and Her Wish to Explore Indian Film Culture.
British actress Alexandra Roach is currently earning acclaim for her role in the new mystery thriller series, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus, now streaming on Prime Video. Working on the original project alongside stars like Sam Claflin and veteran Bill Nighy, she describes the experience as a profound “privilege.”
“It was such a great honour to be a part of a Harlan Coben production and an original thriller from someone who is dominating the industry and this genre,” Roach shared. “It’s such a privilege to be a part of this story and to work with such amazing actors on a story that’s dark, gripping, and an edge-of-the-seat thriller, which he so brilliantly writes.”
The Thrill of the Unexpected Story
The element that most attracted Roach to the series—which follows a forensic psychiatrist solving a conspiracy after his father’s suspicious death—was its sheer unpredictability.
“It’s such a surprising story and you never know where it’s going to go. I think that’s what people are really enjoying about this thriller,” she explained.
For Roach, this constant sense of discovery also translated into a great acting challenge. “As an actor, it’s such a joy to work on something that you just never know what’s around the next corner.” She particularly enjoyed developing her character, Jenna, whom she describes as “spiritual, curious, and instinctive,” loving the process of “bringing all of those sides of me out while I was playing her.”
Connecting Through Universal Mystery
Roach firmly believes in the universal draw of the mystery genre, especially when it involves the supernatural.
“Especially a ghost story like this, it takes me back to being a child and gathering around in your pyjamas and passing the torch around trying to spook each other out,” she mused. “There’s something so universal about a story like this, that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, you can connect and enjoy the thrill of storytelling at its best like this.”
Hoping to Visit India and Work in Bollywood
The conversation turned to the show’s burgeoning fan base in India, prompting the actor to express a strong desire to travel to the country.
“I would love to come to India and it’s definitely on top of the list of places for me to travel. I feel like I haven’t travelled enough but as soon as I can, I’ll definitely be over there,” Roach confirmed.
Beyond tourism, the actress is keen on the prospect of working in Indian films. While humbly stating she is “no expert on it,” she is fascinated by the industry. “I would love to be part of one [Hindi film]. I’m so curious about it and open to learning about the culture, the films out there, and the industry that you have that’s thriving over there.”
A Lasting Spiritual Takeaway
The actress concluded by revealing that the character of Jenna left a significant impact on her personal life. The “spirituality aspect of Jenna” was the biggest takeaway from the production.
“I’ve always been interested, curious and open to that side of things but delving deep into that stuff and learning it definitely has influenced me and my own spiritual practise,” she shared.