Laura Haddock to Star in Starz DA VINCI'S DEMONS

Starz Entertainment and BBC Worldwide Productions announced today that British actress Laura Haddock will play Lucrezia Donati, the mistress of Lorenzo Medici and lover of Leonardo da Vinci in the upcoming STARZ Original series DA VINCI'S DEMONS. Haddock's casting is the second announced for the series, following the announcement of Tom Riley as Leonardo da Vinci.

"Da Vinci's Demons," written by David S. Goyer, is a historical fantasy, following the untold' story of the world's greatest genius during his turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence. Brilliant and passionate, the twenty five-year old da Vinci is an artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist. As a free thinker, with intellect and talents that are almost superhuman, he struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time. He begins to not only see the future, but invent it.

Laura Haddock has starred in multiple productions in theatre, film and on television. She's known widely for her performance as Alison in "The Inbetweeners Movie" and playing the lead role of Kacie Carter in "Honest" on ITV1. Most recently, she has starred as Beryl Ballard in "Upstairs Downstairs" on BBC One. Haddock's television credits include "Strikeback," "How Not to Live Your Life," "Monday Monday," "The Palace," "My Family," "The Colour of Magic" and "Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye." Haddock's theatre credits include "When we are Married," "Famous Last" opposite Pauline Collins as part of the 2009 Sky Arts Theatre Live! Project and "Rutherford & Son" at Northern Stage.

"Da Vinci's Demons" is the first project to enter production under the multi-year agreement between Starz and BBC Worldwide Productions. David S. Goyer, co-writer of blockbuster and critically-acclaimed films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, and writer of the upcoming Man of Steel, is showrunner. Julie Gardner is Executive Producer, along with BBC Worldwide Productions' Head Jane Tranter. Production is set to begin in summer 2012. STARZ will premiere the eight-episode series in the U.S. in 2013. BBC Worldwide will distribute the series in most international territories.

"Da Vinci's Demons" is the latest piece of distinguished, exclusive original programming announced from Starz. "Boss," starring Kelsey Grammer and produced by Lionsgate debuted on October 21 and the second season will air later this year. "Spartacus: Vengeance," season two of the breakout worldwide hit, returned in January 2012 and the much-anticipated "Magic City," debuts April 6, 2012.

BBC Worldwide Productions started its scripted efforts when Jane Tranter, former Controller of BBC Fiction, arrived to run the company in January 2009. Shortly thereafter Julie Gardner, former Head of Drama, BBC Wales, joined as SVP, Scripted, BBC Worldwide Productions. Tranter and Gardner have been responsible for a plethora of titles in their careers including "Doctor Who," "Torchwood," "Little Dorrit," "Bleak House," "Girl in a Caf," "Ashes to Ashes" and "State of Play." "Torchwood: Miracle Day" was the first scripted series produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, and wrapped its run on STARZ in 2011. The company has over 20 scripted projects in sold development with various cable and network partners as well as 15 unscripted series currently in production.

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ and ENCORE brands with approximately 19.6 million and 33.2 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).

About BBC Worldwide Productions

BBC Worldwide Productions, led by Jane Tranter, is based in Los Angeles and develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The Production Company is responsible for the smash hit "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC), "Top Gear" (HISTORY), "What Not to Wear" (TLC), "Torchwood: Miracle Day" (Starz), "Hairy Bikers" (HISTORY) and the upcoming titles "Breaking Pointe" (CW), "Da Vinci's Demons" (Starz), "The Week the Women Went" (Lifetime), "The Next Big Thing" (Oxygen), "Lovetown, USA" (OWN), "Richard Hammond's Crash Course" (BBC America) and "Lives on Fire" (OWN), among others. BBC Worldwide Productions sits within one of six core businesses that form BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

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