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Anna Delaney (portrayed by the Swedish actress Noomi Rapace. [1]) is the deceased mother of James Delaney who appears in his dreams in Series 1.

Character Overview[]

Anna Delaney was a woman of Native American origins with a slender body, long black hair, and an oval face. Dressed in clothes adorned with lugubrious black feathers, and with her face painted with ashes and soot. Salish real personality is unknown, but according to Brace, she had a mental disorder that made her very dangerous to herself and those around her. Given the manservant's loyalty to Mr Delaney, his words are questionable.

Story[]

Background

Anna Delaney was a Native American girl born as Salish, bought by Horace Delaney, a British merchant and shipping mogul along with a plot of land known as Nootka Sound in exchange for beads and other goods.

Spectral visits

Anna Delaney, born as Salish, bought by Horace Delaney along with Nootka Sound plot of land in exchange for some beads. the purchase was put pen to paper on a document, known as Nootka Treaty. After contracting marriage, she gave birth to James Delaney, but was confined to the Bethlem Royal Hospital because of mental disorders, after having spent some time imprisoned in her bedroom. [2]

Her alleged ghost briefly appeared at the East India Company parlour, standing behind John Pettifer during his meeting with James.[3] She also appears briefly during the interrogation just before James is tortured at the Tower of London. She can be seen above the guard on the left side of the room.[4]

According to a statement from Brace, Salish tried to drown James a few days after birth. [5]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Series 1

Notes[]

  • Anna Delaney is the woman who appears very often to James Delaney during his lucid dreams and visions induced by psychotropic substances.
  • According to James, Horace Delaney was forcing his wife to impersonate the role of a Neapolitan noblewoman for personal fulfilment.
  • The Salishan (also Salish) languages are a group of languages of the Pacific Northwest in North America, including the Nootka Sound area.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Uncredited.
  2. Knight, Steven (writer) & Nyholm, Kristoffer (director); January 21, 2017 BBC; January 24, 2017, FX; "Episode 3". Taboo.
  3. Knight, Steven (writer) & Nyholm, Kristoffer (director); January 7, 2017 BBC; January 10, 2017, FX; "Episode 1". Taboo.
  4. Knight, Steven (writer) & Engström, Anders (director); February 18, 2017 BBC; February 21, 2017, FX; "Episode 7". Taboo.
  5. Hardy, Chips & Knight, Steven (writer) & Engström, Anders (director); February 11, 2017 BBC; February 14, 2017, FX; "Episode 6". Taboo.
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