Natalie Portman takes on a new challenge in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake, set in Baltimore in 1966.
The series revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a young Black woman on Thanksgiving Day, an event that captivates the city and intertwines the lives of two women from different backgrounds.
Portman portrays Maddie Schwartz, a Jewish housewife who becomes obsessed with the disappearance of Cleo Johnson, played by Moses Ingram. Maddie, seeking to escape her secret past, embarks on a journey to reinvent herself as an investigative journalist.
In the trailer, Cleo’s voiceover sets the tone: “I saw you once, Maddie Schwartz. Before any of this began, I saw you. Alive, I was Cleo Johnson.”
Natalie Portman takes on a new challenge in the upcoming Apple TV+ series
The series revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a young Black woman, an event that captivates Baltimore
Cleo, a mother navigating the political underbelly of Black Baltimore while striving to provide for her family, finds her life unexpectedly connected to Maddie’s.
As the trailer progresses, Cleo’s voiceover continues: “But in my death, I became the lady in the lake. Your writing dreams ruined your life. Now, you wanted those same dreams to rewrite it. But why did you need to drag my dead body into it?”
The synopsis hints at the consequences of Maddie’s fixation on Cleo’s death: “Their disparate lives seem parallel at first, but when Maddie becomes fixated on Cleo’s mystifying death, a chasm opens that puts everyone around them in danger.”
The Lady in the Lake also boasts a talented supporting cast, including Y’lan Noel, Brett Gelman, Byron Bowers, Noah Jupe, Josiah Cross, Mikey Madison, and Pruitt Taylor Vince.
The recently released trailer offers a glimpse into Maddie’s life as she breaks free from her role as a housewife, declaring, “I can’t just be someone’s wife.” She packs her suitcase and leaves, finding herself surrounded by newspaper clippings, with Cleo’s voiceover echoing in the background.
Portman plays Maddie Schwartz, a Jewish housewife who becomes obsessed with the disappearance of Cleo Johnson
Cleo’s voiceover sets the tone for the trailer, drawing the audience into the mysterious world of the series
Cleo’s voiceover continues, adding a layer of intrigue to the trailer
Moses Ingram portrays Cleo Johnson, a mother navigating the challenges of providing for her family in Black Baltimore
The synopsis hints at the consequences of Maddie’s obsession with Cleo’s death, creating a sense of suspense
The Lady in the Lake features a talented supporting cast, including Y’lan Noel, Brett Gelman, and Pruitt Taylor Vince
The Lady in the Lake is based on Laura Lippman’s novel and premieres with two episodes on July 19
In an interview with People, Portman shared her thoughts on what drew her to the series: “I think, the basis of just a woman wanting to be free. I think is theme that’s interesting to me.”
She added, “Another is just being a Jewish woman in Baltimore in the 1960s. My grandmother was from Baltimore, and so there was a lot of imagination for me about what that time was like.”
Portman also highlighted the exploration of oppression and its complexities: “And then the other thing that was interesting to me was exploring how someone who’s oppressed can also be an oppressor.”
The Lady in the Lake, based on Laura Lippman’s novel, is set to premiere with two episodes on July 19, offering viewers a captivating journey into the mysterious world of Baltimore in the 1960s.
