Dottie Quinn

Dottie Quinn is Kate Galvin's formidable mother, a fixture of London's monied art world who glides into rooms already certain of her welcome. Elegant, watchful, and armed with a razor tongue, she sizes up her daughter's new circle—including Joe—with the practiced skepticism of a woman who has seen every type of charmer before.

Saffron Burrows plays Dottie with a cool, amused authority that makes every scene feel like a chess match she's already three moves ahead in. The writing gives her just enough warmth beneath the ice to keep you guessing whether she's protector or obstacle, and Burrows never tips her hand, which is exactly the point.