David Ajala On The Woman In Cabin 10 & Nine Bodies In A Mexican Morgue

If you didn’t know David Ajala before, you definitely do now. The Hackney-born star is known for his superhero and sci-fi roles across Supergirl (2018–19), Nightflyers (2018) and Star Trek: Discovery (2020–24), and before he becomes a regular on Law & Order: New York, he has some high stakes mysteries to solve. They come in the form of two transatlantic dramas: Anthony Horowitz’s Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue for the BBC, and Simon Stone’s The Woman in Cabin 10 for Netflix, both streaming now. 

We sat down with David to find out more about filming the latter on a real boat out at sea, the possibility of a sequel, plus the insider details on Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.

Q&A: David Ajala

Hi David, how’s life going at the moment?

Life’s good, busy in the best way. I’ve been bouncing between stage and screen, and right now feels like a really special moment. There’s The Woman in Cabin 10 out on Netflix, Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue airing on the BBC, and I’ve just joined the main cast of Law & Order: New York. It’s a lot of energy, a lot of storytelling, but I’m grateful. And whenever I’m home with my family, that’s when everything feels balanced again, or at least as balanced as it ever gets in this job.

Can you give us an elevator pitch for The Woman in Cabin 10?

Imagine Gone Girl meets Knives Out, set on a luxury yacht in the middle of the North Sea. It’s glossy, tense and psychological – a world where everyone looks beautiful and successful, but underneath there’s danger, deceit and desperation.

You play Ben. How would you describe him?

Ben is a man who can adapt to any environment. He’s a photographer, so he’s used to being invisible, seeing everything but rarely being seen. There’s a chameleon-like quality to him; he reads a room instantly and knows how to blend in. He’s pragmatic, maybe even a little too good at self-preservation. He and Lo (played by Keira Knightley) have a romantic past, and that emotional history complicates everything. He wants to help her, but when the stakes rise, Ben’s torn between loyalty and survival. Eventually, his moral compass forces him to choose, and that’s when you see what kind of man he really is.

‘Keira gives a phenomenal performance – raw, intelligent, layered.’ (Keira Knightley as Lo and David Ajala in The Woman in Cabin 10 © Parisa Taghizadeh/Netflix 2025)

What are you most excited for viewers to see?

The tension. It’s beautifully shot and almost hypnotic. The contrast between the glamour of the yacht and the paranoia of what’s unfolding makes it gripping. And Keira gives a phenomenal performance – raw, intelligent, layered. I think audiences will enjoy being kept off-balance, never quite knowing who to trust.

What was it like playing Ben? Did you do anything special to get into character?

I built Ben from the inside out: his sense of control, his habit of observing rather than reacting. I spent time shadowing photographers, learning how they move, how they use silence to capture truth. I also worked on Ben’s inner rhythm – the calm exterior masking internal panic. There’s something powerful about stillness; it’s what makes people uneasy because they can’t read it.

Did you read the book before filming?

Yes, I did. Ruth Ware’s novel has such an atmospheric quality, claustrophobic yet beautiful. I didn’t want to mimic it, but I wanted to absorb its tone: the unease of being surrounded by luxury while danger creeps closer.

It mostly takes place on a superyacht, filmed on a real boat. What was that like?

Incredible and occasionally hilarious. We were genuinely out at sea, no green screen. You’d be in the middle of an intense emotional scene, and suddenly a wave would hit, and everyone would slide an inch to the left. It gave the performances an authentic edge; we were constantly negotiating balance… Literally and metaphorically.

We were genuinely out at sea… It gave the performances an authentic edge.’ (Keira Knightley as Lo and John Macmillan as Captain Addis in The Woman in Cabin 10 © Parisa Taghizadeh/Netflix 2025)

What was the cast dynamic on set? Any standout moments?

It was a joy. Keira’s a generous scene partner: curious, grounded, and sharp as a tack. Guy Pearce has this quiet mastery that elevates everyone around him. Simon Stone, our director, has a gift for creating space for actors to explore. There was a day when the sea was particularly rough and Keira and I just burst out laughing mid-scene, pure chaos, but it broke the tension in the best way.

Ruth Ware recently released a sequel to the novel. Anything you can tease about that potentially being adapted for the screen?

Let’s just say the door is definitely open. The world Ruth created is rich enough to continue, and I think fans will want more. If Ben’s still breathing by the end of this one, he might have some unfinished business.

‘Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue felt like theatre in the best way – everyone bringing their A-game.’ (Eric Mccormack, David Ajala, Adam Long, Siobhan Mcsweeney and Jan Le in Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue © Eleventh Hour Films/BBC)

You can also currently be seen in Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue. For anyone who hasn’t tuned in yet, how would you summarise it?

It’s a gripping, character-driven mystery. A plane crashes in a remote jungle, and the survivors end up in a morgue where nothing is as it seems. Each episode peels back another layer of who these people really are.

You play Zack. What is he like, and how is he different to Ben?

Zack is pure instinct. Where Ben hides behind control, Zack is all fire and intuition. He’s funny, charming, impulsive – a man who leads with his heart, sometimes to his own detriment. Playing both characters back-to-back was fascinating because they occupy opposite ends of the emotional spectrum.

It’s an ensemble cast. What was that like to be part of, and what was the vibe on set?

It felt like theatre in the best way – everyone bringing their A-game. You had nine strong personalities in one room, each character with secrets colliding. The energy was electric.

It’s set in Mexico but filmed in the Canaries – how was that experience?

The landscape was stunning. The light, the heat, the isolation: it gave the production a unique texture. You could feel the story in the air around you.

What has the response been like?

It’s been fantastic. People are connecting with the mystery but also with the humanity underneath it. That’s the best part – when audiences see themselves in the chaos.

What has been your favourite project to date?

Tough question, but top three:

• One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah at the Donmar Warehouse – a transformative experience.
• The Woman in Cabin 10: one of the most talented ensembles I’ve ever worked with.
• Star Trek: Discovery for its scale and the emotional depth of Book’s journey.

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about?

Joining Law & Order full-time is thrilling. And there’s another project in early prep that I can’t talk about yet, but it’s something that’ll push me as both a performer and a human.

‘Zack is pure instinct.’ (David Ajala in Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue. © BBC/Eleventh Hour Films/Cristina Ríos Bordón)

Who has been your favourite actor to work with?

Lucian Msamati. He’s cut from a different cloth – deeply intelligent, fearless, and playful. You learn just by watching him breathe on stage.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

Heath Ledger. I worked with him on The Dark Knight (2008). He was a master of controlled chaos – totally committed yet utterly free. His curiosity about people was endless. That’s what I took away: the work is never about showing, it’s about searching.

What’s your dream role?

The one that makes me a better human. That’s always the aim.

What genre would you like to do more of?

I love that I’ve been able to cross-pollinate genres: drama, sci-fi, crime, theatre. Maybe a grounded romantic film next, something with humour and heart.

Who’s an actor, writer, or director you’d love to work with?

Barry Jenkins, Greta Gerwig, and Denis Villeneuve. Each of them tells truth through beauty, which is what I aspire to.

Do you get to spend much time at home? Do you live in town or the country?

Both! We split our time. I’m a city boy at heart, but looking out the window and seeing fields and horses next door – that’s pure peace. It keeps me grounded.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Chill with friends and family, cook, watch Arsenal when they’re behaving themselves.

What’s your interior design style?

Warm, chilled and safe. I like spaces that feel lived-in and full of character, not like a showroom.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

What is balance?! Aye, there’s the rub. It’s a constant work in progress. I try to be present wherever I am, that’s the closest I’ve come to balance.

How can we all live a little better?

By staying curious without judgment. It opens doors you didn’t know existed.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

There is something, but thankfully I don’t have to start prep just yet. So I’m soaking up the quiet before the next storm.

What David Ajala Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. Absolute chaos and honesty, I love it.

What I’m reading… Black and White by Richard Williams. A powerful book about parenting, discipline, and vision.

The last thing I watched (and loved)… Sinners by Ryan Coogler – superb.

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… As many stage plays as possible; nothing beats live performance.

Favourite film of all time… Coming to America (1988). Pure joy.

Favourite song… ‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone. It’s a declaration of rebirth.

Band/singer always on repeat… Bob Marley

Ultimate cultural recommendation… Pounded yam with salmon and egusi soup – proper Nigerian food!

Cultural guilty pleasure… Chin chin, the Nigerian sweet snack that never lasts long in my house.

The Woman in Cabin 10 is streaming now on Netflix. All episodes of Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue are available now on BBC iPlayer.