Folks from the Rock will see a few familiar places (and maybe even some familiar faces) when they turn on their TVs this winter. "Republic of Doyle," the long-anticipated comedic-drama crime series created by Newfoundland native Allan Hawco, will premiere on CBC Television on January 6.
Click here to see the "Republic of Doyle" trailer.
The series centres around roguish private investigator Jake Doyle (Hawco) and his father/business partner Malachy Doyle (played by award-winning Irish actor Sean McGinley) who fight crime, and even get into a few riffs with each other, as they run a private investigation agency in St. John's, Newfoundland. The dysfunctional Doyle clan is rounded out by Jake's ex-wife Nikki (Rachel Wilson); Malachy's girlfriend Rose (Lynda Boyd); Jake's love interest, Constable Leslie Bennett (Krystin Pellerin); Malachy's rebellious granddaughter Tinny (Marthe Bernard); and graffiti artist-turned Doyle apprentice, Des (Mark O'Brien).
Allan Hawco (Jake Doyle)
A native of the Goulds, Newfoundland and a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Allan Hawco is one of the country's most exciting young actors. Allan is currently in production on his very own CBC series, Republic of Doyle, which he writes, produces and stars in.He has previously starred in some of the most interesting and acclaimed television dramas including ZOS: Zone of Separation, an eight-part series about the life and death struggle to enforce a United Nations-brokered ceasefire in a middle European country (Movie Network, 2008), the political thrillers H2O (CBC, 2004) and its sequel Trojan Horse (CBC, 2007) and the World War II drama Above and Beyond (CBC, 2006).
Allan's feature films include a starring role in Love and Savagery directed by John Smith. The film recently opened the St. John's Women's Film Festival. He also recently appeared in a supporting role in Sir Richard Attenborough's Closing the Ring (2008 nomination Best Film, Irish Film and Television Awards) with Christopher Plummer and Shirley MacLaine.
Hawco has worked in several established theatres in the country. Select credits include the title role in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Works) and Richard III (RCA Theatre) as well as The Shape of Things (Canadian Stage Co.), The Cripple of Innishman (Centaur Theatre; Dir: Ben Barnes), Macbeth (Festival of Classics), Salt Water Moon (Saidye Bronfman Centre), You Are Here (Theatre Passe Muraille) and La Ronde and Present Laughter (Soulpepper Theatre Company).
In 2005, Hawco co-founded The Company Theatre and starred in its inaugural production of Tom Murphy's Whistle in the Dark, which was met with rave reviews. The Toronto Star called it "the most muscular piece of theatre we've seen in Toronto in some time." The Company Theatre's 2008 production of Festen was nominated for three Dora awards, including "Outstanding Production of a Play."
Sean McGinley (Malachy Doyle)
Sean McGinley was born in Donegal and graduated from University College Galway. He was a member of the Druid Theatre Company from 1977-1989. Plays included The Glass Menagerie, Loot, Private Dick, The Playboy of the Western World and the Corsican Brothers. He has become a dominant force on the Irish stage, winning awards for Whistle in the Dark (The Abbey and Royal Court Theatre) Much Ado About Nothing (The Druid Theatre) The Shaurgraun (The Abbey Theatre) and The Hackney Office (The Druid Theatre). Recently theatre includes The Weir (Gate Theatre, Dublin) and Ages of the Moon at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin.His television credits include Lewis (ITV), The Street by Jimmy McGovern (Granada Television), Bleak House (playing the part of Snagsby), Taggart, Pure Mule, Trial and Retribution VIII, Waking the Dead IV (BBC), Pulling Moves (BBC), and RTE's series On Home Ground, The Vice V and the TV adaptation of Marian Keyes' successful novel "Watermelon." Other credits include The Hanging Gale, Murder Rooms, Making the Cut, The Ambassador, Cold Feet III and Midsomer Murders.
Films include The Field, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, Braveheart, Trojan Eddie, The General, The Claim, Dead Bodies, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, The Tiger's Tail, Simon Magus, The Closer You Get and On A Clear Day (IFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature film). In May 2010, Sean will appear off-broadway opposite Stephen Rea in the American premiere of the Abbey Theatre's production of Sam Shepard's Ages of the Moon.
Krystin Pellerin (Leslie Bennett)
Krystin is a native of St. John's, Newfoundland and a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada (2005). She has been a company member of Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto for the last three seasons, playing a wide range of lead and supporting roles. Her professional debut was in Soulpepper's production of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing playing opposite Megan Follows, Albert Schultz and C. David Johnson.Most recently she has appeared on the second season of Showtime/CBC's The Tudors as Lady Elizabeth Darrell, where she spent five months filming in Dublin, Ireland. She is delighted to be back in her hometown filming Republic of Doyle.
Lynda Boyd (Rose Miller)
Lynda Boyd is an award-winning actor, singer, dancer and musician with an extensive background in theatre, music, film, radio and television. She recently added writing to that mix, having penned three episodes of WTN's You, Me & The Kids (she was also the series lead for four seasons) and a short film, Arbor Vitae, which she directed and executive produced. Her film premiered at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August of 2004.Lynda's recurring role as Darlene on ABC Family Channel's Falcon Beach garnered Lynda her second Gemini nomination. Most recent credits include starring opposite Diane Keaton in the Lifetime television movie On Thin Ice, Valerie Bertinelli in True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet (also for Lifetime), reunited with Leslie Neilsen for Slap Shot: The Junior League and Lucas Black in Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (both for Universal), with Owen Wilson in I Spy (Columbia Tristar), Amanda Bynes in She's The Man (Dreamworks), Jennifer Lopez in An Unfinished Life (Miramax) and Steve Austin in the just lensed Damage. Guest star roles include E.R. (Warner Bros.) with Jim Belushi and The Twilight Zone (UPN) with Jason Alexander and most recently The "L" Word, Traveler, Cold Case, Sanctuary, Shark and Psych.
Rachel Wilson (Nikki Renholds)
Rachel Wilson began her professional acting career in Toronto at the age of 12. Since then she has divided her time between Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles working in numerous films and television series.This past fall, Rachel had two films, Man V. Minivan and 75 El Camino included as official selections in the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival and her web series My Pal Satan, was officially selected for the 2009 Independent Pilot Competition at the New York Television Festival. In addition, Rachel regularly voices the role of Heather on the award-winning Teletoon cartoon Total Drama Island.
Mark O'Brien (Des Courtney)
Mark O'Brien is an actor from St. John's, Newfoundland. He began his career performing improv and local theatre, before landing the role of Drake in the CBC mini-series Above and Beyond. His other screen credits include the Lifetime TV movie The One That Got Away, and a supporting role in the soon to be released feature film Grown up Movie Star.Mark has also appeared in a slew of award-winning short films, including Heartless Disappearance into Labrador Seas opposite Liane Balaban, which recently aired on CBC Television. His stage credits include Criminals in Love, Butler's Marsh, Poor Superman, Rope, Red Noses, Autobahn and Until June which played at the 2008 Summerworks Theatre Festival in Toronto.
Marthe Bernard (Tinny Doyle)
Marthe Bernard, child of Gower Street, (St. John's, NL) has been acting in local theatre, festivals and independent films in Newfoundland since a very young age. She is completing a BFA in Theatre from Memorial University but took time off for an extended sojourn in Ireland earlier this year. She is currently acting in a play, Sex, the rules of that was part of the Halifax Fringe Festival in September.
