You remember that feeling when a show ends and you’re just staring at the credits, trying to figure out why the lead detective looks so familiar? That was basically everyone watching The Level when it first hit ITV. It’s one of those twisty, atmospheric crime dramas that sort of lingers in your brain because of the setting—Brighton is gorgeous but looks incredibly moody under a grey sky—and because the The Level TV cast was actually stacked with British talent you've seen in a dozen other things.
Honestly, it’s been a few years since the six-part series aired, but people are still finding it on streaming services and asking the same questions. Who played Nancy? Wasn't the dad in Downton Abbey? Why is the cast so much better than the average procedural?
The Core Players: Karla Crome and the Internal Affairs Mess
Karla Crome leads the pack as DS Nancy Devlin. She’s the heart of the show. You might recognize her from Misfits—she was Jess—or maybe that weirdly addictive Amazon show Carnival Row. In The Level, she’s playing a cop with a massive secret, which is a bit of a trope, sure, but Crome makes it feel sweaty and real. She’s caught between her loyalty to a shady businessman, Frank Le Saux, and her job. It's messy.
Then you have Robert James-Collier. Yes, Thomas Barrow from Downton Abbey.
Seeing him go from a scheming under-butler to Kevin O'Dowd, a detective sergeant, is a trip. He’s got that sharp, slightly suspicious energy that makes you wonder if he’s a good guy or just a different kind of bad guy. He’s investigating the same murder Nancy is trying to cover up her involvement in. The chemistry between Crome and James-Collier is tense. It’s not "will-they-won't-they" as much as it is "will-he-arrest-her."
The Supporting Heavyweights
Philip Glenister plays Frank Le Saux. Now, if you know British TV, you know Glenister is basically royalty. Life on Mars? Ashes to Ashes? Gene Hunt himself. In The Level, he’s the catalyst. He’s the businessman/father figure who gets whacked in the first episode, setting the whole plot in motion. Even though he’s not in every scene, his presence hangs over the entire cast.
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Then there’s Laura Haddock. She plays Hayley Svrcek, Frank’s daughter. You’ve definitely seen her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—she was Peter Quill’s mom in Guardians of the Galaxy. She brings a certain brittle, high-society-gone-wrong vibe to the show that balances out the grit of the police station.
- Noel Clarke shows up as Gunner Martin. Whatever your thoughts are on his later career controversies, at the time, he was a huge draw for the show, bringing that Kidulthood intensity to the screen.
- Lindsey Coulson (Carol Jackson from EastEnders!) plays Michelle Newman. She’s the boss. She’s tough. She’s exactly who you’d want running a high-stakes investigation in Brighton.
- Gary Lewis plays Gil Devlin, Nancy’s dad. He’s a veteran actor—Billy Elliot, Outlander, Gangs of New York. He brings a lot of gravitas to the "troubled father" role.
Why The Level TV Cast Worked (And Where It Didn't)
The show didn't just rely on big names. It relied on character actors who know how to fill a room. Take Amanda Burton. She plays Cherie Le Saux. If you grew up in the 90s or early 2000s, she was British crime TV thanks to Silent Witness. Having her as the matriarch of the Le Saux family gave the show instant credibility.
But here’s the thing about the The Level TV cast: they were working with a script that was sometimes a bit predictable.
You’ve got the "secret witness" plot. You’ve got the "corrupt cop" angle. You’ve got the "family secrets" bit. What saved it from being just another police show was the way these specific actors handled the quiet moments. Crome, in particular, is great at looking absolutely terrified while trying to remain professional. It’s all in the eyes.
The Brighton Connection
The city itself is almost a cast member. The producers didn't just film on a backlot in London. They used the piers, the lanes, and the windy seafront. It gives the actors something real to react to. When you see the The Level TV cast huddled in coats against the sea spray, they aren't faking the chill.
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Spotting the "Before They Were Huge" Faces
If you rewatch the series now, you’ll see people who have since popped up in much bigger international hits.
- Joe Absolom: He plays Luke Nash. He’s been a staple in Doc Martin for years, but he’s also a veteran of EastEnders. He has a very specific, nervous energy that works perfectly for a thriller.
- Cian Binchy: He played the role of Frank's son, Tate. Binchy is an actor with autism who has done a lot of great work in theater and advocating for neurodiversity in the arts. His performance was nuanced and didn't fall into the usual cliches you see in crime dramas.
- Ruth Madeley: She’s become a massive star in the UK (Years and Years, Doctor Who). In The Level, she has a smaller role as a lab tech, but even then, her charisma was obvious.
Tracking Down the Performance Nuances
It’s worth noting that the show was produced by Hillbilly Films and Television. They clearly spent the budget on the actors. Instead of massive explosions, they went for a cast that could handle long, dialogue-heavy scenes in interrogation rooms.
One of the best performances comes from Martin Glyn Murray as Paul Svrcek. He’s the son-in-law caught in the middle. It’s a thankless role in a lot of ways—the "regular guy" surrounded by criminals and cops—but he plays it with a believable level of desperation.
The dynamics between the The Level TV cast members feel lived-in. When Nancy visits her mother, played by Lorcan Cranitch, the history of their strained relationship isn't just told through exposition. It’s in the way they won’t look at each other. That’s the mark of a good cast. They do the heavy lifting that the script sometimes skips over.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re diving into The Level for the first time or doing a rewatch because you realized how many of your favorite actors are in it, pay attention to the background players. The police station is filled with familiar faces from British soaps and procedurals.
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The series is currently available on various streaming platforms like ITVX or BritBox, depending on where you live. It’s a quick binge. Only six episodes. You can knock it out in a weekend.
Actionable Tips for Viewers
- Watch for the subtle clues: Because Nancy is a "mole" (sort of), the way Karla Crome interacts with the rest of the The Level TV cast changes depending on who is in the room. Her body language shifts significantly when she’s around O'Dowd versus when she's alone.
- Don't expect a Season 2: Fans were gutted, but ITV never officially renewed it. It functions as a standalone miniseries, though the ending definitely left some doors open.
- Check out the creators: The show was written by Gaby Chiappe and Alexander Perrinha. Chiappe went on to work on Their Finest and The Beast Must Die. If you liked the tone of The Level, her other work is a safe bet.
- Look at the cinematography: Beyond the cast, the visual style of the show is very specific. It uses a lot of "cold" colors—blues, greys, and washed-out greens—to match the moral ambiguity of the characters.
The real draw remains that ensemble. It’s rare to see a mid-market thriller pull in people like Philip Glenister and Amanda Burton at the same time. It feels like a "best of" British television from the last twenty years. Whether you're there for the mystery or just to see Thomas Barrow play a cop, the cast is the reason the show holds up today.
Keep an eye on Karla Crome in the future. She’s the kind of actor who makes everyone around her better, and The Level was a perfect showcase for that specific talent. It’s a masterclass in how to lead a show without being "loud." Sometimes the best performances are the ones where the actor is just trying to stay underwater without drowning. That’s Nancy Devlin in a nutshell.
Check the credits next time. You’ll be surprised how many of these actors are currently starring in the "next big thing" on Netflix or HBO. The British acting pool is small, but man, it's deep.