Little Birds (TV series)
A British drama set in 1955 Tangier International Zone.
Set in the 1955 Tangier International Zone, a fading colonial playground, the British drama series *Little Birds* follows American debutante Lucy Savage, played by Juno Temple. Craving a life beyond the constraints of her sheltered upbringing, Lucy navigates a world of hedonism and political tension on the cusp of a difficult independence. Produced by Warp Films and inspired by Anaïs Nin’s 1979 erotic short story collection, the show intertwines love, desire, personal drama, and political intrigue. Filmed in Andalucia and at studios in Manchester, the six-episode series premiered on Sky Atlantic and Now TV on 4 August 2020. The main cast includes Yumna Marwan, Hugh Skinner, Raphael Acloque, Rossy de Palma, Nina Sosanya, Matt Lauria, Kamel Labroudi, Amy Landecker, Jean-Marc Barr, and David Costabile, with supporting roles from Alexander Albrecht and Fady Elsayed. Stacie Passon directed from a screenplay by Sophia Al-Maria, with a score by Anne Nikitin. Principal photography ran from March to June 2019 in Tarifa, Spain, and Manchester, England. The series later aired on Starz in the US from 6 June 2021.
- Genre
- Drama
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- Number of episodes
- 6
- Premiere date
- 4 August 2020
- Network
- Sky Atlantic and Now TV
- Production company
- Warp Films
- Filming locations
- Andalucia, Spain; Manchester, England
Lore & Background
Little Birds is set in Tangier International Zone in 1955, one of the last outposts of colonial decadence. The story follows American debutante Lucy Savage, played by Juno Temple, who desires an unconventional life free from societal constraints and finds herself on the cusp of achieving a painful yet necessary independence. The series was filmed in Andalucia with studio elements in Manchester, and principal photography began in March 2019, concluding in June 2019.
Reader's Guide
Little Birds premiered on Sky Atlantic and Now TV on 4 August 2020, and later made its US premiere on the Starz channel on 6 June 2021. The series was written by Sophia Al-Maria and directed by Stacie Passon, with a score composed by Anne Nikitin. The cast includes Yumna Marwan as Cherifa Lamour, Hugh Skinner as Hugo Cavendish-Smyth, and Raphael Acloque as Adham Abaza, among others. The series is significant for its adaptation of Anaïs Nin's erotic stories and its portrayal of colonial decadence and personal liberation in a historically charged setting.
Did You Know?
- The series is inspired by Anaïs Nin's posthumously published 1979 collection of erotic short stories of the same name.
- Principal photography began in March 2019 and concluded in June 2019.
- The series was filmed in Tarifa, Spain and Manchester, England.
- The US premiere on Starz occurred on 6 June 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little Birds (TV series)?
Little Birds is a six-episode British drama that follows American debutante Lucy Savage as she seeks freedom and self-discovery in the hedonistic, politically charged Tangier International Zone of 1955. The series weaves together romance, desire, and the tensions surrounding Morocco's impending independence.
Who stars in Little Birds and who created/produced it?
Juno Temple portrays the lead role of Lucy Savage. The series was produced by Warp Films and aired on Sky Atlantic (along with Now TV) in the United Kingdom.
What literary work inspired Little Birds?
The show draws its inspiration from Anaïs Nin's 1979 collection of erotic short stories. That source material informs the series' frank exploration of desire and personal freedom within a constrained social world.
Where was Little Birds filmed?
Principal photography took place on location in Andalucia, Spain, to stand in for 1950s Tangier, with additional studio work completed at facilities in Manchester, England.
When did Little Birds premiere and how long is the series?
The series debuted on 4 August 2020 and consists of six episodes in total. It was distributed through Sky Atlantic and Now TV in the UK.
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