'There's a bit of Irish spoken': Hugo Weaving on playing an airport chaplain

The Australian star's new series on Netflix was even inspired by an unfortunate incident involving an Irish producer, writes Esther McCarthy

Hugo Weaving and Shabana Azeez in The Airport Chaplain, on Netflix. 

A mislaid bag at an Australian airport inspired an Irish-born producer to embark on one of the most charming and quirky shows of the year.

When Jude Troy lost her bag — containing many important belongings — it led to a frantic search which culminated in her meeting the airport’s chaplain. It prompted a new series set in the ‘all human life is here’ surroundings of an airport, with iconic actor Hugo Weaving taking the lead role. The actor liked the idea of placing a show in the little-seen-onscreen setting of a major travel hub.