Actor Says ‘Creepy Twins’ Story Changed His View of Death

A chilling mystery once buried in the annals of paranormal history is making waves again, captivating believers and skeptics alike.

The eerie case of twin girls, believed by their father to be the reincarnations of their tragically deceased sisters, is being revived through a compelling new podcast—and it’s making one Hollywood actor question the very essence of life and death.

Gillian and Jennifer Pollock were born in 1958, just months after their older sisters, Joanna and Jacqueline, perished in a horrific car accident in Hexham, a seaside village in the United Kingdom. The sudden loss of the two girls shook the small community, but the real intrigue began when their father, John Pollock, adamantly claimed that his newborn twins were, in fact, the reincarnations of Joanna and Jacqueline.

For decades, the Pollock twins’ story gripped the public imagination, drawing intense scrutiny from academics and spawning extensive media coverage. The idea that reincarnation might be real wasn’t just a fringe belief—it was a genuine cultural phenomenon. Yet, over time, interest waned, and the once-fascinating tale faded into obscurity.

That’s all about to change, thanks to the new Apple podcast Extrasensory, narrated by acclaimed actor Will Sharpe. Known for his role in The White Lotus and currently starring in A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, Sharpe found himself drawn to the enigmatic story and its philosophical implications.

“It did immediately catch my attention because at the center of it is this idea of reincarnation and whether or not it might be real,” Sharpe told Newsweek. “I enjoyed the idea of a story that makes you think about your day-to-day life in a different way.”

Sharpe was deeply struck by how the concept of reincarnation could change one’s perception of existence. “It makes you think… of all kinds of transcendental ways of thinking and how that can change your perception of life,” he added.

According to the Encyclopedia of Reincarnation and Karma, reincarnation is the belief that a soul is reborn into a new body after death. The Pollock twins’ story became one of the most bizarre and well-documented cases, complete with curious details that fueled the idea of rebirth.

What really captured Sharpe’s interest, however, was the way executive producer Rosie Pye and her team crafted the narrative, blending humor, humanity, and the eerie in equal measure. “It’s a sort of twisty-turny, compelling story that gets you thinking about all those big questions,” Sharpe said. He noted that the script “wasn’t too serious” and had room to humanize the tale, even incorporating moments of humor. “It definitely goes to some spiritual places and some dark places along the way, but there’s humanity within it too.”

Rosie Pye, a seasoned BBC radio producer, stumbled across the Pollock story while researching for a new podcast concept. “The story became a kind of myth online because the family disappeared, and I wanted to find what the truth was,” she told Newsweek. What she unearthed led to a revelation: an American psychiatrist, Dr. Ian Stevenson, had taken the Pollock case seriously enough to travel to the UK and study it firsthand. His research lent credibility to the family’s extraordinary claims, transforming myth into a matter of academic inquiry.

“As a journalist, you know it’s a gift when something abstract and mythical turns out to be real,” Pye said. “Whether or not you believe what they wrote or the evidence they presented, the story needed to be revisited.”

Sharpe and Pye believe Extrasensory will resonate with a wide audience, not just those fascinated by spiritual matters. “People who love mystery, great storytelling, and the importance of family will connect with it,” Sharpe explained. He likened the podcast’s atmosphere to that of Twin Peaks, full of intrigue and existential musings.

And has diving into this spectral saga changed Sharpe’s views on life after death? “It made me pause to think about it, which I hadn’t done for a while,” he admitted. Reflecting on the idea of a soul’s journey, he mused, “I sort of believe that parts of us remain in the world or the universe, in a very abstract, holographic sense.”

So, could he ever be fully convinced? “I found myself wondering if I could get there, and I think I almost could,” Sharpe concluded, leaving listeners to wonder whether they too might believe in the extraordinary.

Extrasensory is now available on Apple Podcasts. Prepare to be captivated—and maybe even convinced.