Leslie Manville is a British film and theater actress. The BAFTA award winner and Golden Globe and Oscar nominee has starred in the hit TV series and films Rumble, Other People's Children, All or Nothing, Another Year and Grievous Injury.
Leslie Manville has been repeatedly nominated for the most prestigious film awards for her work in top-rated telenovelas and famous films. The performer plays on the stage of the famous Royal Court, Shakespeare Theaters in London, as well as in the "Old Vic".
Way to success
The biography of the future celebrity began in 1956. The girl was born on March 12 in Brighton in the family of a taxi driver. The baby's parents had nothing to do with the world of art. From birth, Leslie was distinguished by excellent vocal abilities. At the age of eight, classes in classical vocals began. Twice the owner of a magnificent soprano became the winner in the competitions of young singers in Sussex.
However, the girl preferred an artistic career to her singing career. At fifteen, Menville left her studies at a regular school and moved to the theater Italia Conti Stage School. The success of the new student was noticed by Arlene Phillips. The teacher invited the talented and flexible girl to join the new dance group "Hot Gossip". Not planning to professionally connect the future with choreographic creativity, Menville refused.
The film debut took place in 1979. Leslie was invited to play in the television series for teenagers King Cinder. On television, she came to the director John Pruse. The director assigned the young actress the role of Nikki.
The six-part film takes place in the fictional seaside town of Barton. Teenage friends Kerry and Nikki are fighting against a local gang of extortionists and a representative of the dark forces who are on the same side with them.
New works
Leslie has already played on the stage of the Shakespeare Theater. Famed director Mike Lee was looking for actors capable of improvisation. Seeing Manville's play at the play, the stage director realized that the search was over. In 1980, the young actress starred in the master's new film "Adults" in the title role.
In the story, newlyweds Mandy and Dick move to their new home. Disagreements about children begin between the spouses. Mandy is constantly visited by her older sister Gloria, trying to escape from the care of an oppressive mother, as well as her friend Sharon. This is very annoying for Dick. After they had a loud quarrel with Gloria, a relative of his wife was forced to hide with the neighbors of the newlyweds. They are also constantly trying to solve their problems.
Finally, after many troubles, things are getting better. Mandy is expecting the birth of a baby, and her sister starts dating a boyfriend.
The premiere was successful, and Leslie starred in the next five films of the director. In the social drama High Hopes, she played Laetitia Booth-Brain.
The main characters, Cyril and Shirley, are hippies. The guy works as a courier, and the girl works for a landscaping company. Both have a lot of personal problems. At the same time, they have to solve the affairs of their relatives. Clashes of interests make up the plot lines of the picture.
Vivid roles
In the drama "Secrets and Lies", Menville appeared in the form of a social worker, a key character, but not the main one. After the departure of her adoptive mother, the main character Hortens begins to search for her biological parent. The result is unexpected. Very soon, the girl will have to plunge into all the secrets and lies of her new family.
The Trouble is set against the backdrop of a creative crisis in the work of composer Sullivan and playwright Gilbert at the theater of Queen Victoria. After the failure of a new job, recriminations begin. Management is concerned.
The playwright who visited the fashion exhibition writes the libretto for the opera "Mikado", taking advantage of the public's keen interest in the culture of Japan. Having happily accepted the idea, Sullivan takes up writing music, not paying attention to the deteriorating health.
For the actors, the new performance is unusual, they have never played the characters of the Middle Ages of the Land of the Rising Sun ever. And for make-up and costume designers, the new production is a joy. They will be able to demonstrate their skills in applying exotic makeup and tailoring unusual costumes for spectators. Leslie got the role of Lucy Gilbert.
Family and career
Again in the image of the main character, Penny, Leslie fans saw in the film "All or Nothing". In a simple family, she is a mother and wife. Her husband works as a taxi driver, her daughter works as a cleaner, and her son is an ordinary lazy person. The family is on the verge of collapse. The alienation of others is acutely felt by everyone. However, the event that happened to them makes us look at life and loved ones in a different way.
In the tragicomedy Another Year, Manville played the role of Mary, the friend of the main character. The picture is conventionally divided into seasons corresponding to the seasons. During each, the middle-aged couple of spouses Tom and Jerry meet with friends, relatives and colleagues. Against the background of the successful life of her friends, Mary's unsuccessful attempts at arranging her own life are even more noticeable.
Changes in the actress's personal life took place in 1987. Her colleague Gary Oldman became her chosen one. For several years Leslie played with him on the stage of the theater, starred in the television film "The Firm".
A child appeared in the family, the son of Alfie. However, the birth of a baby did not prevent his parents from separating in early 1990. In 2000, Menville tried to rebuild family life with actor Joe Dixon. Both starred in the television drama Holding On. The union broke up in 2004.
New plans
The performer decided to focus entirely on her career. The actress played on the stage of the most famous theaters in London, received prestigious film awards, including the Laurence Olivier Film Critics Award.
In the biographical drama about the last years of the life of the famous painter William Turner in 2014, the performer played the role of Mary Somerville, a Scottish specialist in astronomy and mathematics, popularizer of science at a time when there were very few women in this field.
One of the last works of the star was the dramas "Phantom Thread", "Hamstead" and the series "Courtesans".
The premiere of all works took place in 2017.
Leslie was reincarnated in the TV movie as the sister of the main character of the film, Cyril Woodcock. In the multi-part project, Menville played Lydia Quigley. In Hamstead, the actress got the role of Fiona.
