Nancy Daly has been cast as the character Mother in the Netflix series The Boroughs. The veteran actor underwent a significant physical transformation for the role.
Daly, who has nearly 50 acting credits, portrays an ominous entity whose blood grants eternal youth. Her previous work includes guest roles in shows such as Monk, Scrubs, Criminal Minds, and New Girl, along with appearances in Bullet Train and The Tragedy of Macbeth. The performance required heavy makeup and prosthetics applied to every limb. Daly described the process as one in which the character unfolded in the mirror with each application. With her mouth glued shut and no spoken lines, Daly created a unique language from sounds alone. She told interviewers that the approach came from the heart and soul without rehearsal. Daly said the role demanded every ounce of her being physically, emotionally, spiritually, and artistically.