Ever since she stepped into the shoes of MI5 intelligence analyst Ruth Evershed in the BBC's hit spy drama Spooks, Nicola Walker has been a consistent - and hugely welcome - presence on our screens. In fact, she's starred in so many exceptional dramas since then that it's hard to know where to start - and thankfully, we're here to help.
From her much-loved role as divorce lawyer Hannah Stern in The Split to that of the "ghostly" DS Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson in detective drama River, we've been busy working our way through Nicola's best ever performances to bring you the ones that are absolutely worth watching - including one that's even better than The Split! So, get comfy, as these are the Nicola Walker dramas to watch now on ITV, the BBC, Netflix and more.
River
In an inventive twist, River is the detective drama that’s also a ghost story. DI John River (played by Stellan Skarsgård) is an inspector with a secret - he’s being haunted by the ghosts of the victims whose murders he’s investigating. Among these apparitions is his recently-murdered partner (and friend) DS Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson (Nicola Walker). As DI River’s investigation progresses, he digs up secrets about his late friend - and things quickly begin to unravel. The series, which originally aired on BBC One in 2015, has just been added to ITVX, so you can watch all 6 episodes of series 1 now.
Annika
If you like your police dramas with a side of wit, Annika is the series for you. It follows the brilliantly witty and enigmatic DI Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker), who heads up Glasgow’s Marine Homicide Unit. The team are tasked with solving murders as bodies wash up on the Scottish shores and, as well as cracking cases, Annika has to juggle life as a single mum to teen daughter Morgan. Interestingly, Nicola Walker breaks the fourth wall - meaning she chats right to you about Norse myths, office politics, relationships and more. Series 2 has just premiered on the BBC - stream it (along with the first series) on BBC iPlayer now.
The Split
What do you do when you’re a divorce lawyer and your own marriage is falling apart? The Split dives right into that messiness, with Nicola Walker starring as Hannah Stern, the eldest daughter in the Defoe family, who are all lawyers. Things take a bold turn when Hannah leaves her family’s law firm to join a rival. Cue competitive sibling rivalry, courtroom battles and a tangled family drama as the personal and professional intertwine. You can watch series 1 to 3, and the festive special Barcelona episodes on BBC iPlayer.
Unforgotten
Nicola Walker is no stranger to playing investigators, and ITV's beloved crime drama sees her star as the dogged and brilliant DCI Cassie Stuart with a heartrending storyline alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar as DI Sunny Khan. Each series, the pair dig into a decades-old mystery that often triggers emotional shockwaves. It’s bold, but we’ll say it – it’s even better than The Split, and you can stream all episodes from series 1 to 6 (Nicola Walker appears in the first 4) on ITVX.
Last Tango in Halifax
Sally Wainwright's BAFTA-winning family drama, which first aired on the BBC in 2012, follows two widowed septuagenarians (played by Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi) who, after 60 years apart, reunite via Facebook and discover a spark. But their respective daughters are polar opposites: Nicola Walker plays Gillian, a headstrong farmer wrestling with secrets on her rural Yorkshire land. She’s straight talking and chaotic - and clashes with Caroline (Sarah Lancashire), the headteacher navigating a messy love life. It was a pivotal role for Nicola, and you can stream all 5 series on BBC iPlayer now.
Spooks
This one should need no introduction: Spooks is the classic British spy series that kicked off in 2002 (has it really been that long?) and ran for 10 series. Nicola entered the show in series 2, playing quiet but brilliant intelligence analyst Ruth Evershed alongside stars including Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes. Fast-paced and stylish, the series had its finger on the pulse, while taking an intriguing look into the inner workings of MI5 . You can watch series 1 to 10 now on iPlayer.
Scott & Bailey
Nicola Walker and crime dramas really do go hand in hand, and in this compelling Manchester-set series, she makes an unmissable guest appearance (in series 3). Ihe plays Helen Bartlett, an unstable woman who hasn’t seen her parents in 30 years, and Walker brings a troubled and enigmatic edge to the role - alongside powerful female leads DCs Janet Scott and Rachel Bailey (Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones). Stream all 5 series of it on ITVX now.