Lesley Manville

British actress (born 1956)

Lesley Ann Manville (born 12 March 1956) is an English actress known for her frequent collaborations with Mike Leigh, appearing in the films Grown Ups (1980), High Hopes (1988), Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Another Year (2010), and Mr. Turner (2014). She has been nominated for two British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in Another Year (2010) and Phantom Thread (2017), with her performance in the latter earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Manville has also appeared in the films Dance with a Stranger (1985), A Christmas Carol (2009), Maleficent (2014), Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019), Let Him Go (2020), and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022), as well as the television series Emmerdale (1974–1976), Cranford (2007), Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond (2014), River (2015), and Mum (2016–2019). She has been nominated for three British Academy Television Awards for the lattermost. A three time Laurence Olivier Award nominee, she has won once for her role in the 2013–2014 revival of the play Ghosts. She portrayed Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon in the final two seasons of the television series The Crown.

Manville was born in Brighton, East Sussex, the daughter of Norma (known as Jean), a former ballet dancer, and Ron Manville, a taxi driver. She was brought up in nearby Hove, the youngest of three daughters.

After turning down teacher Arlene Phillips's invitation to join her new dance troupe Hot Gossip, she was taught improvisation by Italia Conti teacher Julia Carey. She met Mike Leigh in 1979, when he was looking for RSC actors who could improvise. Her extensive television credits include prominent roles in the dramas Holding On (1997), Real Women (1998–99), The Cazalets (2001), North & South (2004) and Cranford (2007). She also starred in Cards on the Table, a 2006 feature length episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot. Since 2005, Manville has starred in several National Theatre productions, including His Dark Materials (2005), The Alchemist (2006) and Her Naked Skin (2008). She also starred in The Old Vic productions of All About My Mother (2007) and Six Degrees of Separation (2010). In 2009, she played Margaret Thatcher in the Channel 4 drama The Queen. Manville has appeared in numerous Mike Leigh films throughout her career, including High Hopes (1988), Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy Turvy (1999), Vera Drake (2004) and Mr. Turner (2014). Her most notable Mike Leigh films are All or Nothing in 2002 and Another Year in 2010. For both, she won the London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actress of the Year. For Another Year, she also won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress, and was nominated for the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress and the European Film Award for Best Actress, as well as the Chicago Film Critics Award for Best Actress. She also won Best Supporting Actress from the San Diego Film Critics Society. On 18 January 2011, she received a BAFTA nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. On 7 February 2011, former Charlie's Angels stars Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd presented the Best Actress Award to her at the "Movies for Grownups Awards". In 2011, Manville starred in Mike Leigh's play Grief at the National Theatre which earned her a Best Actress Olivier Award nomination. For her role as Helene Alving in the 2013 revival of the Ibsen play Ghosts, she won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Actress and the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress. She also appeared in the films Romeo and Juliet (2013) and Maleficent (2014). In 2015, she starred opposite Stellan Skarsgård in the BBC drama River, which earned her a nomination for the 2016 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress. She then starred opposite Peter Mullan in the BBC sitcom Mum, for which she was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2017 and 2019. In 2017, Manville played Lydia Quigley, the ruthless madam of a posh brothel with clients from the judiciary, nobility, and upper echelons of Georgian society, in the BBC series Harlots. In the 2017 period film Phantom Thread, Manville played Cyril Woodcock, the sister of the dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, played by Daniel Day Lewis. For her role, she was nominated for the Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. In 2020, she played the villainous and intimidating matriarch of an 'off the grid' family in the neo western thriller Let Him Go opposite Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. During that year, she was cast as Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon for the final two seasons of The Crown. Manville was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity. In 2022, Manville starred in the Anthony Horowitz murder mystery series, Magpie Murders, alongside Daniel Mays, Alexandros Logothetis, Jude Hill, and Claire Rushbrook. Manville also played the role of the titular character in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. She received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for her performance in this film. In January 2023, it was announced that Manville was added to the cast of the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black (2024) and would be playing Winehouse's grandmother Cynthia Winehouse. Her first husband was actor Gary Oldman. The pair split in 1989, three months after their son, Alfie (born 1988), was born. Her second marriage was to actor Joe Dixon. Manville was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 Birthday Honours for services to drama, and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity.

YearTitleRoleNotes1985 Dance with a Stranger Maryanne 1987 Sammy and Rosie Get Laid Margy 1987 High Season Carol 1988 High Hopes Laetitia Boothe Braine 1996 Secrets & Lies Jenny Ford the Social Worker 1999 Milk Fiona 1999 Topsy Turvy Lucy Gilbert 1999 Toy Boys Mrs. Allen Short film2002 All or Nothing Penny 2004 Vera Drake Mrs. Wells 2005 The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael Sarah Carmichael 2007 Richard Is My Boyfriend Mother 2007 Sparkle Jill 2009 A Christmas Carol Mrs. Cratchit Voice2010 Another Year Mary 2010 Womb Judith 2013 Romeo and Juliet The Nurse 2013 A Five Star Life Kate Sherman 2013 Spike Island Margaret Titchfield 2013 The Christmas Candle Bea Haddington 2014 Maleficent Flittle 2014 Mr. Turner Mary Somerville 2015 Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism Miss Adderstone 2016 Rupture Dr. Nyman 2017 Hampstead Fiona 2017 Phantom Thread Cyril Woodcock 2019 Ordinary Love Joan 2019 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Flittle 2020 Misbehaviour Dolores Hope 2020 Let Him Go Blanche Weboy 2022 Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris Ada Harris Also executive producer2023 The Critic Annabel Land 2024 Back to Black Cynthia Winehouse Queer Post production Winter of the Crow Dr Joan Andrews Filming

YearTitleRoleNotes1974 Village Hall Merle Episode: "Dancing in the Dark" Softly, Softly: Task Force Janet Episode: "Pop Goes the Weasel"1975–1976 Emmerdale Farm Rosemary Kendall 48 episodes1975 Barlow at Large Christine West Episode: "Protection"1976 The Emigrants Janice Parker 3 episodes1977 A Bunch of Fives Helen Wyatt 14 episodes Leap in the Dark Julie Episode: "The Fetch" King Cinder Nikki 6 episodes1978 Wings Francoise Episode: "Dawn Attack"1980 The Gentle Touch Shirley Davis 2 episodesGrown UpsMandy Television film1982 Objects of Affection Liz Episode: "Our Winnie" Coronation Street Jill Mason 2 episodesOur Winnie Student Television short1984 Play for Today Vivienne Episode: "Dog Ends"1985 Bulman Karen Tait Episode: "The Name of the Game"1989 The Firm Sue Bissel Television film1991 Performance Marlene Episode: "Top Girls"1992 Soldier Soldier Rachel Elliot 5 episodes1993 The Mushroom Picker Margot 3 episodes A Statement of Affairs Carol Episode #1.1 Goggle Eyes Rosalind Killin 4 episodes Crime Story Gail Episode: "When the Lies Run Out"1994 Ain't Misbehavin' Melissa Quigley 6 episodes Little Napoleons Judith Silver 4 episodes A Skirt Through History Bessie Parkes Episode: "A Lady's Portion"1995 Tears Before Bedtime Beattie Freman 4 episodes1996 The Bite Ellie Shannon 2 episodes Kavanagh QC Lucy Cartwright Episode: "The Commitment"1997 Holding On Hilary 7 episodes Painted Lady Susie Peel Television film1998–1999 Real Women Karen 7 episodes1998 Silent Witness Suzy Franklin Episode: "Fallen Idol"1999 Real Women II Karen Turner 4 episodes2000 Other People's Children Nadine 2 episodes Black Cab Yvonne Episode: "Lost & Found" David Copperfield Mrs. Micawber Television film2001 The Cazalets Villy Cazalet 6 episodes2002 Bodily Harm Mandy Greenfield 2 episodes Plain Jane Dora Bruce Television film2003 Promoted to Glory Capt. Annie Sullivan Television film2004 Rose and Maloney Professor Diane Marquis 2 episodes North & South Maria Hale 4 episodes2005 Agatha Christie's Poirot Mrs. Lorrimer Episode: "Cards on the Table"2006 Perfect Parents Sister Antonia Television film2007 Cranford Mrs. Rose 5 episodes2009–2011 Law & Order: UK Phyllis Gladstone 3 episodes2009 The Queen Margaret Thatcher Episode: "The Rivals"2011 Midsomer Murders Phoebe Archbold Episode: "Fit for Murder"2013 An Adventure in Space and Time Heather Hartnell Television film Mayday Gail Spicer 5 episodes 2014 Fleming Evelyn St. Croix Fleming 4 episodes 2015 The Go Between Mrs. Maudsley Television film River DCI Chrissie Read 6 episodes 2016–2019 Mum Cathy 18 episodes 2017 A Very British Brothel Narrator Documentary 2017–2019 Harlots Lydia Quigley 24 episodes 2019–2023 World on Fire Robina Chase 13 episodes 2020 Save Me Too Jennifer Charles 4 episodesLove Life Narrator 10 episodesTalking Heads Susan Episode: "Bed Among the Lentils" 2021 I Am Maria Episode: "I Am Maria" 2022 Magpie Murders Susan Ryeland 6 episodesSherwood Julie Jackson 5 episodes 2022–2023 The Crown Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Main role (Seasons 5–6) 2022 Dangerous Liaisons Genevieve de Merteuil Main role, 8 episodes 2023 Citadel Dahlia Archer Main role Who Do You Think You Are? Herself 1 episode Disclaimer Nancy Upcoming miniseries

Year Title Role Director Venue 1978 Savage Amusement Ali John Caird RSC – Warehouse 1978 The Sons of Light Sister Croy Ron Daniels RSC – Warehouse 1980 Fear of the Dark Jen Walter Donohue Royal Shakespeare Company 1981 Chorus Girls Performer Adrian Shergold Theatre Royal, Stratford East 1978 Who Needs Enemies? Second Student Walter Donohue RSC – Warehouse 1981 Borderline Susan, Valerie Max Stafford Clark Royal Court 1981 Rita, Sue and Bob Too Sue Andrea Dunbar Royal Court Theatre, London 1982 Top Girls Patient Griselda Caryl Churchill The Public Theater, Off Broadway 1983 Falkland Sound Performer Max Stafford Clark Royal Court Theatre, London 1984 The Pope's Wedding Pat Max Stafford Clark Royal Court Theatre, London 1984 Saved Liz Danny Boyle Royal Court Theatre, London 1985 Philistines Polya Royal Shakespeare Company, London 1985 The Dead Monkey Dolores Roger Michell Royal Shakespeare Company, London1985–1986 As You Like It Phebe Adrian Noble Royal Shakespeare Theatre, London 1986 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Cécile Howard Davies Barbican Centre, London 1989 Serious Money Scilla Max Stafford Clark Royal Court Theatre, London 1989 American Bagpipes Sandra Lindsay Posner Royal Court Theatre, London 1989 The Cherry Orchard Varya Sam Mendes Aldwych Theatre, London1990 Three Sisters Natasha Adrian Noble Royal Court Theatre, London1990 Miss Julie Miss Julie Greenwich Theatre 2005 Some Girl(s) Lindsay David Grindley Gielgud Theatre 2005 His Dark Materials Mrs. Coulter Nicholas Hytner National Theatre, London 2006 Pillars of the Community Lona Marianne Elliott Lyttelton, NT, London 2006 The Alchemist Dol Common Nicholas Hytner National Theatre, London 2007 All About My Mother Manuela Tom Cairns The Old Vic, London 2008 Her Naked Skin Celia Cain Nicholas Hytner National Theatre 2010 Six Degrees of Separation Ouisa Kittredge David Grindley The Old Vic, London 2011 Grief Dorothy Mike Leigh National Theatre 2013 Ghosts Helene Alving Richard Eyre Almeida Theatre, London 2015 The Illiad Performer Rupert Gould Almeida Theatre, London2015 Ghosts Helene Alving Richard Eyre Brooklyn Academy of Music2016 Long Day's Journey into Night Mary TyroneRichard Eyre Bristol Old Vic 2018 Wyndham's Theatre Brooklyn Academy of Music Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts2020 The Visit Claire Zachanassian Jeremy Herrin National Theatre

Year Project Awards2001 Topsy Turvy Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Best British Supporting Actress2003 All or Nothing Evening Standard British Film Award for Best ActressLondon Film Critics Circle Award for Best British Actress of the Year2011 Another Year London Film Critics Circle Award for Best British Actress of the YearNational Board of Review Award for Best ActressNational Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (3rd place)San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso AwardNominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleNominated—BIFA Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated—European Film Award for Best ActressNominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Performance2016 River Nominated—British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress2017 Mum Nominated—British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance 2018 Phantom Thread London Film Critics' Circle Award for Supporting Actress of the YearNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress2019 Mum Royal Television Society Award for Comedy Performance (Female)Nominated—British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance 2023 Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical The Crown Nominated—SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Sherwood Nominated—British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress 2024 The Crown Nominated—SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesNominated—British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress