Lucy Boynton takes centre stage in a gripping new true crime drama that delves into the life and tragic end of Ruth Ellis. A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, set to air on ITV1 at 9pm on Wednesday (March 5), portrays Lucy living a glamorous life as she manages the Little Club in London.
Despite catching the eye of customer Desmond Cussen, it’s David, played by Laurie Davidson, who captures her heart, leading to a tumultuous relationship marked by violence. The tension reaches boiling point on Easter Sunday 1955 when Ruth fatally shoots David outside a Hampstead pub.
The drama then shifts focus to the trial and Ruth’s subsequent death sentence. In July 1955, Ellis made history as the last woman to be hanged in Britain, following the murder of her abusive lover David Blakely.
The ITV drama seeks to uncover the story behind the shocking events that rocked the nation. This is the latest role for Lucy Boynton, whose previous credits include Allison Adams in the Naomi Watts drama Gypsy, Astrid Sloan in The Politician, Jean Courtney in The Ipcress File.
Audiences may also recognise her from Let Me Go, Murder on the Orient Express, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Pale Blue Eye and Barbie. But what more do we know about Lucy Poynton’s life, including her famous parents and ex?
Lucy Boynton’s famous family
The Express reports Lucy Boynton was born in 1994 to London-based journalists, travel writer Adriaane Pielou and journalist Graham Boynton.
Boynton was raised in southern Africa and began his career as a political reporter during the peak of the Rhodesian war amid apartheid, according to his website. He was later deported to Britain by the South African government.
In 1998, he took on the role of travel editor at The Telegraph and in 1997, he authored a book about the end of white minority rule in Africa, drawing from his experiences as a journalist in the country. Boynton’s sister, Emma Louise Boynton, has also pursued a career in journalism, becoming a broadcast journalist.
Lucy Boynton’s famous ex and heartbreaking split
Rami Malek and Lucy Boynton were once an item, having met during the filming of the 2017 Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Their first encounter took place at Abbey Road Studios in London before production commenced, with Malek making the initial approach.
“Rami felt so much the leader of that set,” Boynton revealed in a 2019 interview with New York Magazine.
The pair made numerous high-profile appearances together, including at the 2019 Academy Awards where Malek clinched the Oscar for Best Actor. In his acceptance speech, he dedicated his win to Lucy, saying: “Lucy Boynton: you’re the heart of this film. You are beyond immensely talented. You have captured my heart. Thank you so much.”
However, in 2023, reports surfaced that Malek and Lucy Boynton had ‘grown apart’ and ended their five-year relationship. Malek is currently seeing The Crown’s Emma Corrin.
Who is Lucy Boynton’s boyfriend?
Lucy Boynton is presently dating Murdo Mitchell, a singer-songwriter and guitarist hailing from Glasgow, Scotland. Mitchell once showcased his talents on The X Factor in 2014 and now graces stages at numerous tours and festivals across the nation.
You can watch the first episode at 9pm on Wednesday, March 5, on ITV1 and ITVX, with all episodes now available on ITVX.