British actor Amanda Abbington, known for her roles in BBC One’s Sherlock and ITV Studios’ Mr Selfridge, has been cast in the mystery drama Jones, produced by Caracol Studios for Portuguese pubcaster RTP.
Produced and directed by Bruno Gascón (“Calga”), “Jones” charts the Portuguese telenovela’s growing ambitions for global reach. Austria’s ORF Enterprise is responsible for international distribution.
Currently set in Sintra and Vila Nova de Foz Core, Portugal, the series blends mystery novel mechanics with a supernatural twist full of dark humour.
In the six-part TV drama, Abbington plays Eve, a shrewd but slightly off-kilter actress who becomes embroiled in an investigation led by Oliver Jones, played by Portuguese actor José Pimentón (Netflix’s 1899), a detective with an uncanny ability to speak to the dead.
After a murder occurs at a luxurious family gathering in Sintra, Jones teams up with the victim, Julia (RTP’s Laura Dutra), to solve the case through a maze of secrets, lies, and ghostly clues.
The ensemble cast also includes Ivo Canelas, Louis Morrison, Raquel Rocha Vieira, Rafael Morais, Paula de Magalhães, Afonso Lagarto, Margarida Moreira, and Silvia Chiola.
For Gascón, Abington’s presence is a perfect fit for the show’s Agatha Christie-tinged world, and also adds to its crossover appeal.
“‘Jones’ is my homage to classic mystery novels, deeply influenced by Agatha Christie. Each episode forces the viewer to question every detail, every shadow, and every character, where neither the living nor the dead are telling the whole truth,” he said.
“Amanda was the perfect fit for Eve: nuanced, natural, and deeply involved in the story. Her international profile brought recognition and fame, and her touch of British humor was essential to this worldview.”
Abington was attracted to the character and the show’s multilingual, actor-driven approach. “Eve is complex, fun, mysterious and interesting,” she said.
“I loved the challenge of acting alongside my Portuguese castmates while conversing in English. It was incredibly rewarding and much easier than I expected.”
“Filming in Portugal was a big draw. Bruno is truly an actor’s director. There was a freedom to work with him, which was refreshing and easy.”
“This series is completely character-driven and weaves multiple languages throughout the show, making it feel innovative and unique,” Abington added.
Hugo Azevedo, whose credits include the Netflix Portuguese original hit “Rabo de Peixe,” is the cinematographer on “Jones.”
Gascón’s performances so far have enabled “Jones” to play internationally. His breakout film debut, Carga, secured distribution in the US through Breaking Glass Pictures and was subsequently released on major AVOD/SVOD stores, while his follow-up, Sombra, continued to gain momentum on the film festival circuit and sold the Portuguese television rights to RTP.
His series “Irreversível” was selected for MipDrama 2024 and subsequently won Portugal’s Best Fiction Project Award at Globo de Ouro 2025.
“Jones” was produced by Caracol Studios for RTP with the support of local partners including Pic Portugal, the Municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Core and the Municipality of Quinta da Penalva.
