Until I Kill You viewers laud Anna Maxwell Martin for delivering the ‘efficiency of her profession’ as gripping drama leaves some admitting they ‘cannot take it anymore’

Anna Maxwell-Martin has wowed viewers for her portrayal of Delia Balmer in the new ITV show Until I Kill You.

The series is based on Delia’s book – a terrifying true story about living with serial killer John Sweeney. 

It sees agency nurse Delia meet John, who confesses to killing his ex-girlfriend and attacks her before evading capture – before she rebuilds her life to confront him seven years later after he was arrested for another murder.

And Motherland star Anna’s lead role in the series has been hailed the ‘performance of her career’ by viewers.

They were so impressed, in fact, that fans have claimed she should sweep awards season for her ‘absolutely magnificent’ acting.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, viewers wrote: ‘I binged all four episodes of #UntilIKillYou last night – it was chilling & a true story… absolutely magnificent acting from Anna Maxwell Martin. I felt her rage towards the police & the judicial system that failed her so badly. Definitely not to be missed,’;

‘Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt. #UntilIKillYou on is gripping. Anna Maxwell Martin is just magnificent in it. She will bag every award going for this,’;

‘Until I kill you is terrifying and brilliant at the same time – Anna maxwell Martin is fast becoming my favourite actress,’;

‘A hard watch but brilliantly told. An important story. Anna Maxwell Martin giving the performance of her career. And that last image of Delia – so striking,’;

‘Outstanding portrayal of Delia Balmer, every award should go to Anna Maxwell Martin. How the hell John Sweeney was allowed to leave the country unnoticed is beyond me. Also, 4 life sentences and parole in 8 years?!!!!’;

‘Anna Maxwell Martin is outstandingly good in this. What an actor, able to straddle comedy and serious drama so brilliantly. She should be winning everything (and should have been for a long time),’;

‘Anna Maxwell Martin is surely winning awards for her portrayal of Delia Balmer, isn’t she?! What an actress and what an incredibly strong woman she so brilliantly portrayed,’;

‘Such an intense ep tonight of #UntilIKillYou brilliantly acted by Anna Maxwell-Martin as always, an Oscar performance & Shaun Evans shaking off affable @EndeavourTV character totally, cops in 90’s useless!’;

‘Such a powerful portrayal of Delia from Anna Maxwell Martin.. Superb acting , worthy of a BAFTA.. without a doubt, and excellent writing from @yogdaws … Delia Balmer’s story ..You did it justice. Well done Nick Stevens.’  

Another viewers was stunned by the series finale after it aired, as they said: ‘Two episodes into Until I Kill You and I can’t take it anymore. It’s literal edge of your seat viewing and so intense!!!’

The series first landed on the box on Sunday and has had viewed glued to  their screens.

Until I Kill You follows Delia, one of Sweeney’s ex-girlfriends who is seeking justice over the attacks she was subjected to by her former lover.

The synopsis for the drama reads: ‘In 1991, Delia leads an itinerant and solitary life in London working as an agency nurse. When she meets fellow free-spirit John Sweeney in a local pub, it seems like the connection she has been searching for.

‘As the relationship develops, Sweeney’s artistic, anti-establishment persona gives way to a darker side, culminating in a series of violent attacks on Delia, during which he tells her he killed his former girlfriend and disposed of her body in an Amsterdam canal.

‘Sweeney is arrested but, due to a catastrophic failure by the court to realise how dangerous he is, granted bail. 

‘He immediately pursues Delia and subjects her to a horrific, near-fatal attack. She survives, but Sweeney evades capture and disappears.’

Sweeney returns seven years later, and is arrested for the murder of another girlfriend – 31-year-old Paula Fields – in north London.

This leads to Delia having to face her tormentor in open court, as her testimony was ‘vital to the prosecution case against him’.

Sweeney was handed a life sentence for the murder of Fields and another woman, Melissa Halstead, whose body was found in a canal in Rotterdam in 1990, in 2011.

Discussing the role, actor Shaun Evans – who plays Sweeney – told Radio Times: ‘The story that we are telling takes place over about 15 to 20 years, over the course of a woman’s life – called Delia Balmer.

‘It is essentially about how this woman fell victim in one of her personal relationships to coercive behaviour, gaslighting, domestic abuse and violence.

‘She was ultimately let down by the judicial system until they really needed her as a linchpin in their case against the guy. That’s basically the gist of the story.’

Until I Kill You is available to stream on ITVX now.