The highly-anticipated trailer for Apple TV+’s limited series Lady in the Lake, starring Natalie Portman, has finally dropped. Directed by Alma Har’el, this seven-part series promises a gripping blend of mystery and drama set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1960s Baltimore.
Natalie Portman Steps into Television
Natalie Portman makes her television debut as Maddie Schwartz, a Jewish housewife who reinvents herself as an investigative journalist after becoming obsessed with the murder of Cleo Johnson, portrayed by Moses Ingram. Portman, who also serves as an executive producer, highlighted her personal connection to the story, stating:
The story itself was really compelling to me because of two primary things: One is that my grandmother was from Baltimore and about the same age as Maddie during that time period… So there was a real imagination of what it was like to be a woman at that time in that kind of city. And also the story of Jewish assimilation is interesting to me…
Moses Ingram’s Role
Moses Ingram, an Emmy nominee known for her role in The Queen’s Gambit, plays Cleo Johnson. Cleo is a mother navigating the political complexities of Black Baltimore while striving to provide for her family. Reflecting on their experience, Ingram passionately described:
The lives of two women converge on a fatal collision course. Maddie Schwartz (Portman) is a Jewish housewife seeking to shed a secret past and reinvent herself as an investigative journalist, and Cleo Johnson (Ingram) is a mother navigating the political underbelly of Black Baltimore while struggling to provide for her family.
An Ensemble Cast and Creative Team
Lady in the Lake showcases an ensemble cast featuring Y’lan Noel, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Brett Gelman, Byron Bowers, Noah Jupe, Josiah Cross, and Mikey Madison. 
The series was created, written, and directed by Israeli-American filmmaker Alma Har’el, known for her critically acclaimed film Honey Boy.
A Closer Look at the Production
The production team includes notable names such as Nathan Ross and Jean-Marc Vallée for Crazyrose, Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf America, Layne Eskridge, Amy Kaufman, Boaz Yakin, and author Laura Lippmann among its executive producers. Har’el collaborates with producing partner Christopher Leggett through their studio Fifth Season.
Release Schedule and Soundtrack
The series premieres with its first two episodes on July 19, followed by new episodes every Friday through August 23. The soundtrack will feature compositions by Marcus Norris from the South Side Symphony Orchestra.
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