Stars behind bars: Actors hold drama workshop with inmates at U.S. jail

By ELYSIA TAYLOR-HEARN FOR THE SCOTTISH MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 19:43, 23 May 2026 | Updated: 19:43, 23 May 2026 She is used to rubbing shoulders with famous actors and has walked the red carpet the world over. However, Scots actress Gayle Rankin took time out to work with an altogether different cast of performers as she helped with a drama workshop for American prison inmates. The Greatest Showman actress, from Paisley, helped stage a play called 12 Angry Men, starring residents of the notorious Hunstville Unit in Texas. The prisoners were encouraged to explore their own predicaments through a courtroom drama, which follows a 16-year-old boy facing the death penalty after being accused of murdering his father.  Ms Rankin was said to have immersed herself in her mentoring role, even performing alongside the inmates. The project was part of an initiative run by charity Cool Hand Series, which ‘brings the power of theatre to prisons’ via workshops, film screenings, and discussions with movie stars. Ms Rankin, 36, worked with fellow actress Kerry Bishe to coach 12 inmates at the infamous prison, which carries out all executions in Texas. The Scottish actress helped stage a play with inmates at a jail in the U.S. Relatives of the prisoners used social media to thank the actors for their help. An inmate’s sister wrote: ‘Thank you so much for going and [doing] this for my brother. He had the best experience of his life. He was so happy to tell me about it and really appreciated you guys.’ Ms Rankin replied: ‘We loved meeting and working with [him]. We certainly haven’t forgotten him.’ The workshop came after Rankin previously attended a screening of King Hamlet with Star Wars actor Oscar Isaac at Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York. The non-profit praised Rankin and Isaac for ‘offering their souls and humanity without hesitation’.  It wrote: ‘Thank you for being so kind, generous, and funny. Thank you for giving so much love to the men in that room and carrying their words and presence out with you when you left.’ The prison role was a full circle moment for Rankin, who made her American acting debut in an episode of Law and Order in 2012. Gayle Rankin visits Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York State with filmmaker Elvira Lind Ms Rankin and Ms Lind were joined at the screening by Star Wars actor Oscar Isaac The workshop is not the first time that Hollywood royalty has taken to the stage in an American jail.  Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya and Hamilton stage actor Daveed Diggs are among a string of A-listers who have teamed up with Cool Hand Series to bring the arts to imprisoned individuals. The ‘industry titans’ arrange viewings of their movies for prisoners, followed by discussions about crime, trauma, and incarceration in the US. Cool Hand Series stressed: ‘Our goal, along with bringing art and entertainment to prisons, is to change not only who gets to tell what stories and why, but who stories are told for.’ No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.