Alex Drake (Ashes to Ashes)

Alex Drake is the protagonist of the British science fiction crime drama television series Ashes to Ashes, a sequel to Life on Mars. Played by actress Keeley Hawes, DCI Alex Drake is a police officer in 2008 London who, after being shot, finds herself mysteriously transported to 1981 London.

In 1981, she encounters DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) and his team, who were the focus of the previous series. Alex initially believes she is in a coma-induced hallucination or possibly a virtual reality scenario stemming from psychological trauma. She attempts to use her modern forensic and psychological profiling knowledge to solve crimes and understand her situation, often clashing with Hunt's more traditional and often brutal policing methods.

Throughout the series, Alex struggles to reconcile her own reality with the 1981 world. She frequently sees visions and hears voices which hint at a deeper connection between her past, her present (2008), and the world she finds herself in. A key element of her character is her determination to return to her daughter, Molly, in 2008.

As the series progresses, Alex's relationship with Gene Hunt evolves from conflict to a complex bond of mutual respect and, ultimately, romantic feelings. The nature of her presence in 1981, the true identity of Gene Hunt, and the meaning of the visions she experiences become central mysteries of the show. The series finale reveals the full explanation behind her experiences and the fate of all the characters.