EXCLUSIVE: Introducing the cast of ‘Unauthorised Absence’, written by Jo Clayton, directed by Georgia Parris

12 October 2026 | By Molly Lipson

Unauthorised Absence, written by Jo Clayton and directed by Georgia Parris, is a heartfelt British drama about neurodivergence, invisible needs, and institutional failure. It centres on Anna, a single mother balancing work with raising her nine-year-old daughter, Thea, who’s experiencing severe school-related distress and is stuck on a three-year waiting list for an autism assessment.

At home, Thea is creative, affectionate and deeply vulnerable; at school, her psychological distress is mistaken for truancy, fabrication or bad parenting. As Anna fights for support, she faces mounting scrutiny from the school and local authority. She receives fines, is threatened with legal action and nearly loses her job, all the while her daughter’s needs remain unrecognised.

The film is inspired by writer Jo Clayton’s lived experience, as well as testimony from hundreds of families of neurodivergent children. It has received support from BAFTA Winners Anna Maxwell Martin, who came on board as one of the film’s Executive Producers, Cathy Tyson, Jennifer English, Zeb Achonu, and nominees Alix Wilton Regan and Greg Fisher.

Meet the cast of Unauthorised Absence below.

Beatrice Flaherty as Thea

Beatrice is delighted to be making her professional debut. She developed a love of acting and music through her local theatre school, going on to win the Key Stage 2 National Monologue Competition in 2025.

Emily Bruni as Mum

Emily has a distinguished career spanning stage, screen and radio. She is best known for her role  in Peep Show, Believe Nothing and Personal Affairs, with other notable credits including Slow Horses and Toast of London. Performing with the RSC, and in West End hits, she also won an  Offie for her critically acclaimed one-woman show. 

Cathy Tyson as Headteacher

Cathy won a BAFTA for her role in Help (2021). She is also known for Mona Lisa (1986), for which she was BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated, and Band of Gold for ITV. A regular of British stage  and screen, she most recently appeared in the BBC dramas Blue Lights, Black Ops and Boiling  Point, as well as Criminal Record for Apple TV.

Natalie Lauren as Teacher

Natalie gained early roles in TV with the shows Evacuation (CBBC), MotherFatherSon (BBC) and  Close To Me (Channel 4), before the feature How To Talk To Girls At Parties (2017). She then  studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, before becoming a multi award-winning actor and  impact filmmaker. She has worked with children outside of mainstream education for 10 years.  She is also the producer of the film.

Amy Booth-Steel as CAMHS Worker

Amy was nominated for the 2026 Olivier Awards for her role in Paddington: The Musical. She is  best known for One Day, Doctor Who, Nolly and Silent Witness. She was in the BAFTA nominated film Blue Jean (2022), and will appear in the upcoming BBC prequel to Call The Midwife.

Sabil Suleman as Education Welfare Officer

Sabil is a “non-actor” making his professional debut in Unauthorised Absence. He followed the film’s development on social media and felt a strong affinity to its subject matter. He impressed the team with his authentic and brutally accurate open call audition. This is his first acting credit.

Nicole Sadie Sawyerr as School SENCO

Nicole is best known for her work in the 2026 BBC shows Ann Droid and Twenty Twenty Six. She is also cast in the Apple TV show It Gets Worse. She holds a number of theatre credits across the UK, including shows with Birmingham Rep, Dundee Rep, and the RSC.

Anna Maxwell Martin as School Secretary (voice only)

Anna has won two BAFTAs for her roles in Bleak House and Poppy Shakespeare and was  nominated for roles in Motherland, South Riding and Until I Kill You, for which she won an  International Emmy. She is known for her work in Line of Duty, Code 404, Ludwig and Star City as  well as numerous theatre roles. Anna is deeply committed to her work in advocacy and  campaigning, and has been a prominent voice for both children’s rights and accessible education. She is also an executive producer on the film.