Clean Sweep cast: "The industry started to realise that people will watch women. We can sell stories"

Irish production company ShinAwiL’s first ever original scripted drama series, Clean Sweep, is a gripping effort. Told from the point of view of the killer, the Irish crime thriller has been in the works for six yeas.

The unique series juxtaposes family with crime, as it revolves around super-housewife and mother Shelly Mohan (Charlene McKenna). She manages to juggle three kids, housekeeping, and cooking for her Garda detective husband (Barry Ward). The life that Shelly holds so dear, however, becomes threatened when her husband begins to investigate a murder that draws up the past she’s carefully hidden. Her story starts to unravel, with Shelly’s secret life as a killer at risk of being revealed.

Barry Ward as Jason Mohan and Jeanne Nicole Ni Áinle as Fiona _ Clean Sweep_Season 01, Episode 02 - Photo Credit: Deirdre Brennan.

Inspired by true events, the six-episode series was created and written by American Gary Tieche, who has an affinity for crime thrillers and hoped to film a series in Ireland. It is co-produced by Incendo, and will be broadcast by RTÉ and Sundance Now in the US.

The project placed Peaky Blinders’ McKenna in her first executive producer role. Speaking right after filming wraps, she is enthusiastic about the experience.

“It’s been a lot of work, but I’ve enjoyed it,” she reflects. “You’re obviously always invested in what you’re playing, but as an executive producer, you’re even more invested. You’re going home and thinking on a much deeper level, and thinking more about business rather than just the creative side, which has been a real learning curve for me.”

Not only was the producing role new, the character was a difficult adjustment as well.

“It was really hard getting inside Shelly’s head,” notes McKenna. “I would say it’s maybe one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever done – I ran the entire emotional gamut. Because there’s the backstory, there’s the double stories going on, the keeping-it-together mom thing… and playing it all at once.”

While there are not many similarities between McKenna and Shelly, she does say they are both “Monicas.”

“I’m very particular. She’s OCD, that’s where we are definitely similar. I think you always must share some DNA with the character. ”

Still, Charlene did not attempt to get into character with method acting, quipping, “No one was up for being killed – they just weren’t feeling it.”

Something that stands out about the series is its mainly Irish cast, with McKenna explaining that she had a role in the casting.

“I wanted to pick some of my team to go into battle with me,” she says. “The ideal is always Irish people telling Irish stories. It’s a business and the right people should play the right parts, but that would be the dream across the board. There’s a very strong Irish cast.”

Charlene McKenna as Shelly Mohan - Clean Sweep _ Season 01, Episode 03 - Photo Credit: Deirdre Brennan.

Other leading cast members include Jeanne Nicole Ni Ainle as Jason’s Garda partner Fiona, and Trevor Kaneswaren as fellow stay-at-home parent Matt. When asked to describe the series in one word, they have some clever responses.

“Bonkers, from my character’s point of view,” says Kaneswaren.

“What’s the word for something that gives you a heart attack?” Ni Ainle chimes in.

Ward also calls the show, “Complete. Because it’s got loads of different elements that feel very comprehensive.”

They are all unanimous in saying that Clean Sweep is a special kind of series.

“It’s kind of a crime thriller and it’s also a domestic drama,” says Ward. “And it’s a whydunnit as opposed to a whodunnit. It’s a real mixed bag, with bits of of familiar shows, but all tied in together.”

Ni Ainle continues, “It’s not a regular crime thriller, in the sense that you’re only following the crime because there’s a whole family and a backstory too. There’s a character that everyone can follow or relate to.”

The show allows the audience in on the character’s secret.

“When the audience is ahead, it’s tricky to keep them interested. The jig is up in the first episode, hence the whydunnit – you have to keep the intrigue of the ‘why?’”

Kaneswaren views this as a positive, commenting, “That’s great, because the audience kind of knows what’s going on. The majority of the characters, other than the main character, don’t.”

Charlene McKenna as Shelly Mohan - Barry Ward as Jason Mohan - Clean Sweep _ Season 01, Episode 02 - Photo Credit: Deirdre Brennan.

Ward agrees that the trade-off is worth it.

“I think a show that reveals a tonne initially can’t really offer many twists, but what you get is complex plot development,” he says. “You get various indications and clues as to why this person behaved as they did. So then when certain events occur, whether in flashback or in real time, it’s more of a case of character development.”

It does, however, make the acting more challenging.

“Playing a character who doesn’t know anything is really tricky,” Barry continues. “But that exists in every drama, and the trap that actors fall into is playing the end of the scene. It’s that old thing if someone saying, ‘Don’t think of a pink elephant’ – it’s there. All the time you’re trying to pretend or act like you know less than you do, because your character knows less.”

Clean Sweep also boasts a diverse cast, showcasing some great emerging actors in lead roles

“I loved the representation,” says Kaneswaren. “It’s really cool to see so many new faces, and to see a good reflection of our society today.”

The focus of the series is a highly complicated female character, which is not always common. McKenna touches on how she feels the industry is changing for women.

“I think the change is really happening,” she says. “They’ve started to realise that people will watch women. It’s like when Bridesmaids came out and they nearly tripped over themselves that women can be funny. Where have you been? It’s 2022, we can sell stories as well.”

After ten weeks straight of shooting, the entire cast are ready for a rest.

“I’ve been filming every week since January,” says Charlene. “I need to play myself for a while. I don’t even know where I am. You know, when you wake up, the crew are still at the bottom of your bed.”
Barry adds, “I may need to lie down for as long as I’m allowed to.”

Whether there will be another season =is still up in the air, though Charlene has her fingers crossed.

“You could go either way,” she suggests. “You could potentially be satisfied with how it ends. But I think you’ll be wanting more… I want more.

• Clean Sweep is out now on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player

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