The Lesley Manville Programs
I did not know this actress's work until Phantom Thread, in which I thought she was excellent. She was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, and if she'd won, I wouldn't have been sore about it (although I was pulling for Laurie Metcalf).
Reading about her after that, I found out about her British sitcom "Mum." I binge-watched it (easily done as it's just six episodes per season, of which there have been two). I liked it, and, again, her, so much. She plays a recently widowed woman with the patience of Job; it can be a bit cringey because the supporting cast—her son, his gf, her brother and his gf, her in-laws—are all defective in one way or another. It's a sweet-natured (because of Manville's character), gentle comedy. Her character is so lovely.
From there I went to Harlots, in which she costars, and plays a character 180 degrees from Cathy in Mum: the madam of a brothel in 1760s London. Her character in that is criminally evil, like [italic]really[/italic] criminal. (One of her Mum costars, Dorothy Atkinson, whose character is so awful on the sitcom, is also in Harlots.) Harlots is an hour-long show with 8 episodes in a season. It is quite grim; the fourth episode was so troubling that I wasn't sure I'd be able to stick with it. Anyway, she's terrific as a villain too.
I just like her.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | September 1, 2018 12:55 AM
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She has the same sex appeal as this fellow Brit—
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | August 31, 2018 12:12 AM
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A few years ago she played William Hartnell's wife (the first Doctor Who) opposite David Bradley for the 50th Anniversary show, "An Adventure in Space & Time".
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | August 31, 2018 12:15 AM
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She's a brilliant actress. I hated Phantom Thread with a passion but she was great in it. Harlots is fantastic fun if a bit slight in places.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | August 31, 2018 12:17 AM
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Mum is great and features the delicious Peter Mullan also.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | August 31, 2018 12:24 AM
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Glad Lesley escaped from punchy Gary Oldman
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | August 31, 2018 12:29 AM
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Anybody see her and Irons in Long Day's Journey?
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | August 31, 2018 12:33 AM
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I heard she specialises in working-class characters. Is that true?
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | August 31, 2018 12:40 AM
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One of my favorites (because of Mike Leigh). Do try to watch any of her work with him. It's Mike Leigh, so you have to love bleak but if you want to really see her shine then there is plenty to choose from: Another Year, she will break your heart. All or Nothing, also a heart-breaker, and you aren't likely to recognize her straight off if you have only seen her recent work.
She was the reason I watched Mum. Otherwise fairly difficult to stick with that show, but her and Peter Mullan's story arc kept me watching.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | August 31, 2018 1:34 AM
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She was great in Another Year playing a character who was just not easy to like but ultimately, as r9 says, broke your heart.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | August 31, 2018 1:39 AM
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[quote}She's a brilliant actress. I hated Phantom Thread with a passion but she was great in it.
My thoughts exactly r3. I liked Phantom Thread for maybe the first hour, the look of it, the score, but I hated the story, especially the ridiculous, implausible "kink" on which Reynolds and Alma's relationship hinged. Lesley M. was great, though.
The second season of Harlots just ended; I'm not ready to watch season 2 yet. I found Lucy's story hard to watch. And Jessica Brown Findlay, how gorgeous is she?
So yeah, I'm a wuss; Mum is more my speed. I really liked the Michael (Peter Mullan - I find him delicious too r4) character and the way his relationship with Cathy developed. The rest of them I wanted to kill (Kelly does have her moments, though).
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | August 31, 2018 11:12 PM
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Shit, I messed up r3's quote.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | August 31, 2018 11:13 PM
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I've loved her work. She plays vulnerable very well.
Another Year is really great (along with one of Britain's "ugly" actresses who is always compelling, Ruth Sheen)
All or Nothing (another with Ruth Sheen)
Cranford
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | September 1, 2018 12:48 AM
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High Season-with Kenneth B and Jackie B- find it!
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | September 1, 2018 12:55 AM
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