Lesley Manville movies and TV shows span a remarkable career across film, television, and theatre. Born on March 12, 1956 in Brighton, England, she has become one of Britain’s most celebrated actresses through her extensive collaborations with director Mike Leigh and her recent roles in major international productions.
Manville’s early career established her as a formidable talent in British cinema. She made her film debut in 1985 with Dance with a Stranger, directed by Mike Newell. That same decade saw her appear in Stephen Frears’ Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987) alongside her growing stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her partnership with Mike Leigh would prove particularly significant, yielding eight films together over nearly three decades.
The Mike Leigh collaborations represent a crucial thread through Manville’s filmography. Her work in Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy-Turvy (1999), and All or Nothing (2002) demonstrated her ability to inhabit complex, often understated characters. For Another Year (2010), she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress and earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The London Film Critics Circle honored her twice for British Actress of the Year for both All or Nothing and Another Year.
Her breakthrough to international recognition came with Phantom Thread (2017). Manville portrayed Cyril Woodcock, the controlling sister of Daniel Day-Lewis’s obsessive couturier Reynolds Woodcock. Her performance earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, alongside a BAFTA nomination. The nomination was considered a genuine surprise by industry observers, with The Playlist noting that “no one was expecting Lesley Manville to sneak in there”.
Manville’s television career has proven equally distinguished. In River (2015), she played DCI Chrissie Read opposite Stellan Skarsgård, earning a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her role as Cathy in the BBC sitcom Mum (2016-2019) brought two more BAFTA nominations for Best Female Comedy Performance. The series ran for eighteen episodes across three seasons, showcasing her comedic range.
The historical drama Harlots (2017-2019) cast her as Lydia Quigley, a ruthless brothel madam in Georgian London. This performance demonstrated her capacity for villainous roles, which she later explored further in the neo-western thriller Let Him Go (2020) as the menacing matriarch Blanche Weboy. Critics noted that her “room-stopping death stare from Phantom Thread” was amplified in that role.Quick Bio: Lesley Manville
Notes on accuracy: Net worth figures are estimates from secondary sources and not officially verified. Marriage dates for Joe Dixon are approximate, with divorce confirmed as 2007 in one source and 2004 in another.
Her portrayal of Princess Margaret in the final two seasons of The Crown (2022-2023) brought her to a global Netflix audience. Manville succeeded Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter in the role, working alongside Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II. She described the sisters as “probably one of the greatest loves of each others’ lives” in an interview with the BBC. The Hollywood Reporter noted that she sought to portray Margaret as “not the dazzling, but the dutiful” younger sister.
In Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022), Manville took on a rare leading role as a London charwoman who travels to Paris to buy a Dior gown. The performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. The Hollywood Reporter praised it as “a too-rare star vehicle in which one of England’s most invaluable actors carries us effortlessly”.
Manville has continued the Susan Ryeland murder mystery series, starring in Magpie Murders (2022) and Moonflower Murders (2024) for the BBC and PBS. These adaptations of Anthony Horowitz’s novels have become another signature television role. She also appeared in Back to Black (2024) as Cynthia Levy, Amy Winehouse’s grandmother, bringing warmth to a tragic story.
Her theatre career remains a cornerstone of her artistic identity. Manville won the Olivier Award for Best Actress for Ghosts (2014) and repeated that success for Oedipus (2024) at Wyndham’s Theatre. In 2026, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for the Broadway transfer of Oedipus. Her work with the National Theatre, Royal Court, and Old Vic spans productions including Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Top Girls, and Serious Money.
Manville received recognition for her services to drama with an OBE in 2015 and a CBE in 2021. At age 61 when she received her Oscar nomination, she described herself as a “late bloomer” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. That characterization now seems insufficient for an actress whose career has continued to expand across both sides of the Atlantic.
For audiences exploring Lesley Manville movies and TV shows, her filmography offers a masterclass in versatility. From Mike Leigh’s intimate British dramas to Hollywood productions like Maleficent and Let Him Go, from sitcom warmth in Mum to royal tragedy in The Crown, she has consistently delivered performances of depth and precision. Her recent work in Midwinter Break (2026) alongside Ciarán Hinds further demonstrates her ongoing commitment to challenging material.
Lesley Manville won her first Academy Award nomination for Phantom Thread (2017), where she played Cyril Woodcock, the controlling sister of Daniel Day-Lewis’s obsessive couturier. She also received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress, cementing her international breakthrough after decades of acclaimed British stage and screen work.
Did Lesley Manville appear in Mike Leigh films?
Yes. Manville has appeared in eight of Mike Leigh’s films, including Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004), and Another Year (2010). For Another Year, she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress and earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
What television roles is Lesley Manville best known for?
Manville portrayed Princess Margaret in the final two seasons of The Crown (2022–2023) on Netflix. She also starred as Cathy in the BBC sitcom Mum (2016–2019), earning two BAFTA nominations for Best Female Comedy Performance. Her role as Lydia Quigley in Harlots (2017–2019) showcased her talent for villainous characters.
Did Lesley Manville win any major theatre awards?
Yes. Manville won the Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance in Ghosts (2014). She won a second Olivier Award in 2025 for Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre, and subsequently won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for the same production’s Broadway transfer.
What recent films and TV shows has Lesley Manville appeared in?
In 2024, Manville appeared in Back to Black as Cynthia Levy, Amy Winehouse’s grandmother, and in Moonflower Murders as Susan Ryeland. She also starred in Midwinter Break (2026) alongside Ciarán Hinds. She has joined the cast of Prime Video’s comedy Escorted, playing the mother of Brett Goldstein’s character.
