Lesley Manville says her stage and screen careers 'feed each other' Lesley Manville reflects on the symbiotic relationship between her stage and screen careers, highlighting how both mediums enrich her artistic expression. In the film Midwinter Break, she portrays Stella, a retired couple’s wife, whose marriage unravels during a trip to Amsterdam. Manville emphasized her fascination with relationship-driven narratives, noting that they offer a unique opportunity to explore human connections. "You're depicting people's existence," she said, praising the collaboration with actor Ciarán Hinds and director Polly Findlay. Manville discussed her insights during an interview with NPR’s Michel Martin, conducted between rehearsals for Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at London’s National Theatre. With over five decades of experience, she has navigated both mediums, balancing stage and screen work. Her stage debut came as a teenager in the 1972 West End musical I and Albert, and she has since earned critical acclaim for roles such as Princess Margaret in The Crown and her performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread. Her theatrical achievements include multiple Laurence Olivier nominations and two Best Actress wins, including a role as Jocasta in a modern retelling of Oedipus. This production, set on election night, features a large red clock counting down to polling hours. In the final moments, Manville delivers a harrowing monologue as Jocasta, recounting a secret from her past: being impregnated at 13 by the country’s leader and having her child taken. The scene, performed in silence with the clock ticking behind her, left the audience in stunned silence.#polly_findlay #ciaran_hinds #national_theatre #lesley_manville #les_liaisons_dangereuses
Lesley Manville says her stage and screen careers 'feed each other' Lesley Manville plays Stella, a wife to Gerry, in the new film Midwinter Break, directed by Polly Findlay. The story follows a retired couple traveling from Glasgow to Amsterdam, where long-standing tensions in their marriage resurface. Manville, reflecting on her career, emphasized the unique appeal of relationship-driven narratives. "Relationship films always appealed to me to watch as well as to be in," she said. "You're depicting people's existence. It's a very pleasing and satisfying relationship to develop, especially if you've got a good sensitive actor like Ciarán Hinds and a very good director." Manville discussed her role in Midwinter Break during an interview with NPR’s Michel Martin, conducted between rehearsals for a production of Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at London’s National Theatre. The actress, who has balanced stage and screen work for over five decades, highlighted the interconnected nature of her artistic pursuits. "They all feed each other," she said. "I really can't bear it if I'm not on stage for a couple of years. I miss it. I think it's ultimately where my heart is." Manville’s stage career began in 1972 with the West End musical I and Albert. She has since earned critical acclaim and multiple awards, including an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in The Crown and an Oscar nomination for her role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread. Her theatrical work has also garnered several Laurence Olivier nominations, with two Best Actress wins. One notable performance was her portrayal of Jocasta in a contemporary retelling of the Greek tragedy Oedipus, which transferred to Broadway and closed in February.#lesley_manville #midwinter_break #polly_findlay #ciaran_hinds #national_theatre
