British actress Leo Hatton joined Pop Culture Unplugged to talk about the long-awaited return of No Man’s Land — and the complex emotional territory she navigates as Ellie, a school counselor from Texas whose journey takes her from small-town life to the war-torn chaos of Syria.
With Season 2 dropping April 16, Hatton reflected on the depth of her character, the show's themes of extremism and identity, and what makes this role so personal.
A Role Worth Waiting For
Although No Man’s Land wrapped filming two years ago, Hatton says the release is more exciting than ever.
“We wrapped two years ago and now it’s finally here,” she shared. “This role in particular was just a phenomenal one to land. I really, really wanted it. It hit me in a personal way.”
Ellie’s Intense Journey
Ellie’s arc is far from typical — she starts as a school counselor in Texas and ends up embedded in a conflict zone, chasing questions about her ex-boyfriend and herself.
“She goes on such a huge journey,” Hatton explained. “This is about real-world events, but it looks at extremism through a very human lens. It’s not about religion or race — it’s about people who are searching for meaning and go down these extreme paths.”
Hatton describes Ellie as “layered” and “complicated,” navigating love, belief, identity, and personal agency — all against the backdrop of global chaos.
Collaborating Behind the Scenes
Working with director Rotem Shamir (Fauda), Hatton called the process “like doing theater for television.”
“It was very collaborative,” she said. “We’d finish 12-hour days and still sit together discussing scenes for the next day. It was magical — rare, but magical.”
This time and care allowed her to dive deeply into the emotional fabric of Ellie’s decisions — even the ones that may leave audiences unsettled.
On Portraying Controversial Choices
Hatton admits it was a challenge to portray a character making bold, morally ambiguous choices.
“We wanted to root everything Ellie does in a real emotional place,” she said. “She goes places that a lot of people may not agree with, but it’s about understanding why — and asking, what drives someone to that edge?”
Themes That Reflect the Real World
Though set in Syria in 2014, Hatton believes the show’s themes couldn’t be more timely.
“This is about polarization, extremism — the big questions of why people believe what they do,” she explained. “It’s scarily relevant today.”
What She Hopes Audiences Take Away
“I think people might be shocked,” Hatton admitted. “But I also hope they’re intrigued. Ellie’s based on real women who made unimaginable choices. This show doesn’t offer easy answers — it just asks important questions.”
What’s Next for Leo Hatton?
Hatton recently wrapped filming on a new espionage series currently titled Shadows, also directed by Rotem Shamir. She describes it as “John le Carré-esque” and completely different from No Man’s Land.
“It was so exciting to work with Rotem again,” she said. “It’s a spy thriller — a new world entirely.”
Where to Watch & Follow
No Man’s Land Season 2 premieres April 16, with all eight episodes expected to drop at once.
Follow Leo Hatton on Instagram at @leohatton (underscore count may vary, she jokes) for behind-the-scenes updates and project news.
Don’t miss Hatton’s performance as Ellie — a haunting, timely journey into the complexities of conviction, identity, and the human cost of extremism.