Messiah V – The Rapture
Marsha Thomason plays DS Mel Palmer
Marsha Thomason takes on her biggest UK television role to date as Messiah returns to 91Èȱ¬ One. Marsha plays DS Mel Palmer, part of the team on the hunt of a serial killer predicting Armageddon.
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For Marsha, who has spent several years in the US working on high profile shows including Las Vegas and Lost, the opportunity to appear in Messiah was too good to turn down.
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"I'd seen the first Messiah and loved it and I love Ken Stott," says Thomason.
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"I love crime drama and it's very exciting for me to play a detective."
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Marsha's success in the US doesn't mean she has turned her back on the UK. Roles in films for Miramax and Disney led to Marsha being cast in Las Vegas and then Lost but Marsha had not planned moving to America.
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"I was having such a great time there, it was serendipity, the right time, everything came together and it's been five years since I've been there," says Marsha.
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"It's treated me very well but it's great to be back in the UK.
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"Having been back here for two months I feel that there is no reason why I can't split my time between both."
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The intensive schedule of Lost resulted in Marsha leaving the sun-soaked location of the popular drama to travel to the Messiah shoot without a break.
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"I was doing Lost and then I got on a plane from Hawaii and many planes later I arrived in Belfast," explains Marsha, "so I didn't have very much time to prepare. I was really thinking on my feet!"
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Mel Palmer's personal life is integral to the story of the new two-part Messiah, as it plays out against the backdrop of murder and destruction. The depth to Mel's character is what initially attracted Marsha to the role.
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"I loved the script and I loved Mel, she's a great character. She isn't just a detective, she's very complex in her relationships and how she reacts to circumstances. She has quite a few things going on," says Marsha.
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"I had a wonderful conversation with Harry [Bradbeer, Director] – he has great energy and is very passionate and we talked about Mel and we were both on the same page.
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"For me it is just great to be playing a detective, I've never played a detective before! But really it's the story that spoke to me."
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The new team in Messiah is led by DCI Joseph Walker, played by Marc Warren. For Marsha, this was another reason to sign up for the series.
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"When I heard that Marc was attached I was very excited because I have been a fan of his for a long time, so it really is a thrill to be working with him."
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The new cast represent the second chapter of Messiah and a new beginning for the show.
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"It's very exciting, we're reinventing Messiah and I know as a fan of the show I would tune in to see the new generation, as it were," says Marsha.
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"I think we are bringing new life to the show and I don't think people will be disappointed – it's as dark and as gritty and as entertaining as ever."
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