Emma Thompson films intense scenes under kayak for new thriller

Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has traded the elegance of Edwardian drawing rooms for the gritty realism of London’s Regent’s Canal, as she filmed intense scenes for the second series of Apple TV thriller Down Cemetery Road ^[1]. The 67-year-old, known for her role in Howards End, was pictured sprawled beneath an upturned green kayak, her long black leather coat and heavy boots blending into the leaf-strewn towpath.

The scene, captured by paparazzi, shows Thompson’s character, Zoe Boehm, attempting to escape from a man in black, with crew members and her stunt double—wearing an identical grey wig and outfit—assisting her to her feet ^[1]. The physical demands of the role highlight the show’s shift toward high-octane thriller territory, far removed from the restrained drama of her Oscar-winning performance.

Down Cemetery Road, written by Slow Horses author Mick Herron, premiered in October and followed Zoe Boehm and art conservator Sarah Trafford, played by Ruth Wilson, as they investigated a young girl’s disappearance after a house explosion in Oxford ^[1]. The second series, based on Herron’s novels The Last Voice You Hear and Smoke And Whispers, opens with a woman falling in front of a train, drawing Zoe into a dangerous web of art smuggling and a serial killer.

Apple TV confirmed last week that Martin Clunes and Amanda Abbington have joined the cast, expanding the ensemble for the upcoming season ^[1]. The show’s blend of espionage, crime, and psychological tension continues to draw attention, with Thompson’s physical commitment to her role adding a new layer of authenticity. The story was first reported by Daily Mail Showbiz and Daily Mail.