Actor Emma D’Arcy, widely recognized for portraying Rhaenyra Targaryen in the hit HBO fantasy drama House of the Dragon, is stepping into a deeply personal and emotionally layered new project. The actor has been cast in the upcoming U.K. short film Last Train Home, directed by filmmaker Jessi Gutch, whose own experience with terminal illness forms the heart of the story
The film aims to explore death in a way rarely seen on screen — not as a sudden ending, but as a complex and deeply human journey.
Emma D’Arcy Takes on a Unique Role
In Last Train Home, D’Arcy will play Eve, a character who reconnects with a childhood friend during the final stages of life. The narrative unfolds across two surreal settings — a hospice bed in the real world and a mysterious steam train filled with ghostly passengers.
The filmmakers describe the project as a “coming-of-death” story, a concept that reframes dying not as a single dramatic moment but as a process filled with emotion, reflection, and connection.
By blending elements of realism with dreamlike imagery, the film hopes to create a more compassionate portrayal of what people experience as they approach the end of life.
A Story Rooted in Real Experience
Director Jessi Gutch’s personal journey forms the emotional backbone of the film. In 2019, at just 27 years old, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that had already spread to her liver and spleen.
During chemotherapy treatments, Gutch spent time in hospital wards alongside terminally ill patients. The experience profoundly shaped her perspective on mortality and human connection.
When the disease returned during the 2020 pandemic lockdown and was declared incurable, Gutch turned to filmmaking as a way to process the experience.
Her earlier project, the semi-autobiographical short The Forgotten C, explored similar themes and went on to earn a nomination at the British Independent Film Awards.
Exploring Death Beyond Fear or Religion
Over the past few years, Gutch has devoted significant time to researching how different cultures and philosophies approach death. Her work has focused particularly on spiritual experiences reported by people nearing the end of life, including widely documented accounts of deathbed visions where patients believe they encounter loved ones who have already passed away.
The director hopes Last Train Home will help audiences see dying as a shared human experience rather than something society avoids discussing.
According to Gutch, cinema often reduces death to a dramatic moment — a final breath or a violent act — while ignoring the emotional, spiritual, and relational layers that surround it.
A Unique Setting and Creative Team
The film’s visual concept emerged during a two-week creative residency at Prospect Cottage in Dungeness, England. The remote coastal location was once home to the late artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman.
Known for its stark landscape where industrial structures meet barren natural terrain, the setting reflects the film’s themes of transition and reflection.
Composer Donna McKevitt, who previously collaborated with Jarman and contributed to the soundtrack of his final film Blue, will create the score for the project.
Independent Production With a Meaningful Mission
Last Train Home is being produced by Cat Marshall of Commonplace Films alongside actor-producer Victoria Emslie of Primetime under the banner Last Train Home Ltd. The short film currently has a production budget of around £72,000 and is in the process of securing financing.
The project has also received support from Breaking Through the Lens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving gender equality in the film industry.
A creative team reflecting that mission has been assembled for the project. Casting director Shaheen Baig, known for films such as Aftersun, is overseeing casting, while BAFTA Breakthrough honoree Nathalie Pitters will serve as director of photography.
The film’s crew also includes production designer Lucie Red, editor Nse Asuquo, and sound designer Ines Adriana.
Challenging Industry Working Conditions
In addition to its narrative themes, the production is also pushing for changes in filmmaking practices. The team has committed to shorter working days on set — seven hours plus one break — in response to research suggesting that intense working conditions in the film industry have negatively impacted the mental health of many workers.
The production will also collaborate with End of Life Doula U.K. to provide emotional support for cast and crew throughout filming.
A Broader Conversation About Mortality
The filmmakers believe the project reflects a broader societal reluctance to discuss death openly. Studies in both the U.K. and the United States suggest that many people find conversations about mortality uncomfortable, often avoiding the subject entirely.
Through Last Train Home, the creative team hopes to create a space where audiences can approach the topic with empathy, curiosity, and honesty.
Final Words
With Emma D’Arcy leading the cast and Jessi Gutch bringing her deeply personal perspective to the story, Last Train Home promises to be more than just a short film. It aims to spark a thoughtful conversation about mortality, connection, and what it truly means to face the end of life.
For D’Arcy, the project also marks a powerful shift from epic fantasy television to an intimate and emotionally resonant piece of storytelling.
