ABOUT THE CAST

GORAN VISNJIC (Doctor Michael Strother)

Goran Visnjic came to the attention of Hollywood when he made his English language film debut in the critically acclaimed film Welcome to Sarajevo, directed by Michael Winterbottom.

In addition to starring in NBC's top rated and international hit drama ER as Doctor Luke Kovac, his film credits include The Deep End, directed by Scott Maghee and David Seigel, starring opposite Tilda Swinton; Committed, co-starring Heather Graham, Practical Magic, with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock and The Peacemaker, starring George Clooney.

Visnjic grew up in Croatia, attending the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. There he won three National Best Actor Awards, including the Orlando (the Croation equivalent of the Broadway Tony), for his portrayal of Hamlet at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Other theatre credits include Les Fourberies de Scapin, L'ecole des Femmes, Miss Julie, Ivanov, The Brothers Karamazov and L Baruffe Chizotte.

SHIRLEY HENDERSON (D.I. Janet Losey)

Scottish actress Shirley Henderson's most recent screen credits include the box office smash Bridget Jones's Diary, 24 Hour Party People, Wonderland and The Claim, for director Michael Winterbottom. For her role in Mike Leigh's award-winning film Topsy Turvy, about the life of Gilbert and Sullivan, Henderson was nominated as Best Actress by the Film Critics Circle.

Henderson followed a drama course at Kirkaldy Technical College with three years study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has since combined a career on stage, television and film. Television audiences will remember her leading role in the popular Scottish drama Hamish Macbeth, which co-starred Robert Carlyle, and she recently appeared in the BBC adaptation on Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now. On stage she has appeared at The National Theatre, The Royal Court and Hampstead Theatre, in a variety of classic and modern roles.

After completing Close Your Eyes, Henderson starred alongside Kathy Burke in Shane Meadows's film Once Upon a Time in the Midlands.

MIRANDA OTTO (Clara Strother)

Australian actress Miranda Otto recently starred in Human Nature, alongside Rhys Ifans, Patricia Arquette and Tim Robbins, directed by Michael Gondray, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy for director Peter Jackson.

Daughter of one of Australia's most eminent actors, Barry Otto, Miranda Otto has garnered a string of awards for her work there, including several nominations as Best Actress by the Australian Film Institute for her work in Gillian Armstrong's The Last Days of Chez Nous, and The Well, directed by Samantha Lang.

Miranda Otto stars in the BBC television adaptation of Anthony's Trollope's The Way We Live Now, alongside David Suchet, Cheryl Campbell, Douglas Hodge and Shirley Henderson.

PADDY CONSIDINE (Elliot)

Since making his film debut in a leading role in Shane Meadows's A Room For Romeo Brass, Paddy Considine has worked with a variety of directors in the UK. His role in Pawel Palikowsky's award winning Last Resort, won the actor international recognition and Best Actor Award at Thessaloniki Film Festival. Other recent appearances include roles in Twenty Four Hour Party People, Michael Winterbottom's film chronicle of the hay days of Manchester's Factory Records; Happy Now, directed by Phillipa Cousins; The Martins, Tony Grounds's comedy co-starring Kathy Burke and Lee Evans; Born Romantic, directed by David Kane and produced by Michele Camarda, and he has the lead role in Jim Sheridan's East of Harlem.