Alicia Silverstone stars as Fiona Fox in the new Acorn TV series Irish Blood, a six-part murder mystery exploring family secrets and abandonment. In an interview, Silverstone reveals how her producer role allowed deep involvement in the show's creation. The series premieres on August 11 with episodes streaming weekly.
Alicia Silverstone Breaks Down the Emotional Mysteries of Her New Acorn TV Series Irish Blood
Alicia Silverstone, known for her iconic role as Cher Horowitz in the 1995 film Clueless, takes on a new challenge in the crime drama Irish Blood. The series, premiering on Acorn TV on Monday, August 11, with two initial episodes followed by weekly releases, follows Fiona Fox, a successful Los Angeles divorce attorney haunted by her father's abandonment on her tenth birthday.
Fiona receives a mysterious package from Ireland, prompting her journey across the Atlantic to uncover truths about her father, Declan, and a family she never knew existed. The story reveals that the abandonment was a lie intended to shield her and her mother from Declan's shady business dealings, leading Fiona into a world of murder and crime.
In an interview with Paste Magazine, Silverstone explained what drew her to the project: "It wasn’t in my planning, either. Honestly, it was two things: One, while I liked the mystery and I liked the crime elements, I found the show really quirky as well, and I liked that mixture. It was also an emotional, rich drama."
As a producer, Silverstone influenced casting, writing, and editing to ensure depth: "I was just trying to make [the story and the character] as deep and layered as possible, and land in a real place so that it felt very grounded."
Fiona's character is shaped by unresolved trauma. Silverstone described her as suffering from "emotional wounds" after her father's sudden departure, which affected her relationships: "She just had all these feelings that didn’t get addressed. She had such a strong need to have her daddy."
The series emphasizes female relationships, with Fiona forming bonds, including with her grandmother, which Silverstone called "everything." Filming in Ireland added richness: "It’s a huge character in the show... It’s so pretty and so different."
Silverstone noted Fiona's transformation, shedding her polished Los Angeles look for a more natural appearance as she embraces her Irish roots. Co-stars include Jason O’Mara, Wendy Crewson, Dearbhla Molloy, Simone Kirby, Ruth Codd, and Leonardo Taiwo.
Irish Blood blends episodic mysteries with a season-long emotional arc, distinguishing it from typical cozy crime series like Harry Wild. New episodes stream Mondays on Acorn TV.
