FSU theatre professor appears in BAFTA-nominated mini-series

FSU School of Theatre Assistant Professor Monika Gossman appears alongside Guy Pearce in “A Spy Among Friends.” Image Courtesy of MGM+.

Florida State University School of Theatre Assistant Professor Monika Gossmann appears in the British miniseries “A Spy Among Friends,” which was recently nominated for a British Academy Television Award.

“A Spy Among Friends” is based on the New York Times Bestseller by Ben Macintyre and follows the story of Kim Philby a British intelligence officer and a double agent for the Soviet Union. Appearing alongside Guy Pearce and Damian Lewis in this dramatic series, Gossmann portrays the athlete turned KGB operative Galina.

“The director was very firm about us pursuing characters who lived during that time,” said Gossmann. “For instance, Galina wouldn’t speak much- she only speaks Russian as to not give away that she speaks English. It was very difficult to achieve the complex relationship without saying much at all.”

Gossmann explains that she drew inspiration for the role from her own parent’s experiences as Germans living in the Soviet Union.

“I was born in Kazakhstan under Soviet leadership,” said Gossmann. “While I don’t remember much of that time because I very young when my family moved to Germany, my mother was a teacher in the Soviet Union and she would talk a lot about the way it was. It gave me a strong knowledge of Soviet ideology- their books and philosophy- and how you would carry yourself as a Soviet woman.”

Gossmann explains that she drew inspiration for the role from her own parent’s experiences as Germans living in the Soviet Union. Image Courtesy of MGM+

Gossman joined the School of Theatre faculty this Spring, teaching performance, scene study, movement and somatics for actors to the program’s undergraduate students.

“I have really enjoyed working with our students so far,” she said. “They are all very eager to learn and all incredibly talented.”

The BAFTA Television awards will take place on Sunday, May 14. You can watch “A Spy Among Friends” now on MGM+. Gossmann also appeared alongside Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman in David Fincher‘s Oscar-winning “MANK,” and you can see her soon in “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,” premiering next month in the UK.

The programs at FSU’s School of Theatre are consistently ranked as some of the best in the world. Learn more at Theatre.fsu.edu.