7 Miles Out: On the red carpet with the cast and creatives at London Film Festival 2026

Mae Trumata 28 October 2026

7 Miles Out: On the red carpet with the cast and creatives at London Film Festival 2026

Carol Morley is a masterclass in finding underground talent, giving them a chance to shine with starring roles in her films. As a matter of fact, Florence Pugh’s first feature was The Falling by Morley, and the actor has blossomed into pure excellence since then, only achieving greater heights in her career. 7 Miles Out may be semi-autobiographical, with Morley lending her story and writing the original novel while also directing this screen adaptation. But the brilliance of this picture’s creative process is that Morley takes another chance to showcase budding talent. It stars Lucy Halliday in a story of grief and self-discovery through music and artistic pursuits. Taking place over the course of seven years, the movie follows Ann, who, amidst the gamut of emotions that come with growth and puberty, deals with the suicide of her father. From age 11 to 18, she tries to navigate the whiplash of events and finds comfort in the 70s and 80s music scene, finding friends along the way. With music such an integral part of the story, the soundtrack showcases songs co-written by Morley alongside Carly Paradis.

The Upcoming caught up with the cast and Morley as they talked all things 7 Miles Out, starting with Eve Baddeley, who gave a brief rundown of the plot and where her character, Dawn, falls in the grand scheme of Ann’s journey. She noted the movie’s raw, visceral storytelling and how culture and media express people’s humanity, highlighting the need for more funding for the arts. Baddeley praised Morley, recalling lessons she learned from the filmmaker, which include taking up space and understanding that her story is valid and worth telling, as it is worth hearing.

Leila Entwistle, also a newcomer to the acting scene alongside Baddeley, talked about the time and setting of 7 Miles Out and its themes of female friendships and navigating the working-class environment of the 70s and 80s. She dove deep into her character, Hel, the parts of her Entwistle enjoyed embodying, such as her costumes and overall punk aesthetic, and how these bits and pieces helped the new actor get into the headspace of the character. She briefly discussed the London Film Festival and its accessibility, especially in platforming stories from all over the world, with features not bound by genre. Like Baddeley, Entwistle also mentioned the many things she learned from Morley, especially for her, who had never done any professional acting before 7 Miles Out.

The woman of the hour, Morley arrived and had a chat with us about the premise of 7 Miles Out and her initial writing of the book, revealing that Michael Winterbottom was the one who suggested she adapt it into a screenplay. She outlined the challenges of adapting from text to screen, noting the importance of incorporating music into the piece, especially as she worked on its sonic identity. She admitted to songs that came to mind while writing the screenplay that eventually made it into the final cut. Morley talked briefly about the many women who worked on the picture, while emphasising the value of inclusion in filmmaking, whether that be in the stories told or in the people who worked on these media pieces. She finished her interview off by recalling the magnitude of kindness she experienced during the production of her work.

Finally, Aidan Gillen and Gemma Whelan, who play the lead’s parents, stopped by the carpet together to discuss their characters and what viewers can expect to see in the film in terms of themes and its autobiographical aspect. Gillen highlighted the time it was set in: how that period’s music and the post-punk culture play a role in the story’s coming-of-age angle. He also emphasised the significance of working with up-and-coming actors, most of whom were locally sourced and had little to no acting experience, making way for new talent to take the stage. Because of that, they needed to create a gentle and caring atmosphere on set and a safe space for everyone. Whelan noted how Morley led and directed with kindness and encouragement throughout production.