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
