Lesley Manville

Biography

Lesley Manville was born on March 12, 1956 in Brighton, East Sussex, England. She is a multi award-winning actress of theatre, film, and television, and has worked extensively with director Mike Leigh. She is known for Another Year (2010), All or Nothing (2002), Topsy-Turvy (1999), and Secrets & Lies (1996), and her performance in Phantom Thread (2017), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also had a supporting role in Maleficent (2014). Manville's extensive stage career includes roles in As You Like It, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and The Alchemist. Her film debut was in Dance with a Stranger (1985).

Known For

Midsomer Murders

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Crown

The Graham Norton Show

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Play for Today

Coronation Street

All Movies (68)

• National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses2026 · as Marquise de Merteuil
• Midwinter Break2026 · as Stella
• Winter of the Crow2026 · as Joan Andrews
• Cold Storage2026 · as Trini Romano
• Mr. Burton2025 · as Ma Smith
• Queer2024 · as Doctor Cotter
• The Critic2024 · as Annabel Land
• Back to Black2024 · as Cynthia
• Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris2022 · as Ada Harris
• Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men2022 · as The Mother
• Let Him Go2020 · as Blanche Weboy
• Misbehaviour2020 · as Dolores Hope
• Ordinary Love2019 · as Joan
• Maleficent: Mistress of Evil2019 · as Flittle
• National Theatre Live: LOVE2018 · as Herself/Introduced By
• To Provide All People2018 · as Consultant Psychiatrist
• Phantom Thread2017 · as Cyril Woodcock
• The Agency2017 · as Anthea
• Hampstead2017 · as Fiona
• A Very British Brothel 22017 · as Narrator (Voice)
• Rupture2016 · as Dr. Nyman
• Alan Clarke: Out of His Own Light2016 · as Self
• The Go-Between2015 · as Mrs. Maudsley
• A Very British Brothel2015 · as Herself - Narrator (voice)
• Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism2015 · as Miss Adderstone
• The One and Only Mike Leigh2014 · as Self
• Mr. Turner2014 · as Mary Somerville
• Ghosts2014 · as Helene Alving
• Maleficent2014 · as Flittle
• The Christmas Candle2013 · as Bea Haddington
• An Adventure in Space and Time2013 · as Heather Hartnell
• Romeo & Juliet2013 · as The Nurse
• A Five Star Life2013 · as Kate Sherman
• Spike Island2012 · as Margaret
• Ashes2012 · as Cath
• Another Year2010 · as Mary
• Womb2010 · as Judith
• A Christmas Carol2009 · as Mrs. Cratchit (voice)
• Sparkle2007 · as Jill
• Perfect Parents2006 · as Sister Antonia
• The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael2005 · as Sarah
• Vera Drake2004 · as Mrs. Wells
• Promoted to Glory2003 · as Capt. Annie Sullivan
• All or Nothing2002 · as Penny
• Plain Jane2002 · as Dora Bruce
• David Copperfield2001 · as Emma Micawber
• Topsy-Turvy1999 · as Lucy Gilbert
• Toy Boys1999 · as Mrs. Allen
• Milk1999 · as Fiona
• Dual Balls1997 · as Joanna
• Secrets & Lies1996 · as The Social Worker
• O Mary This London1994 · as Sophie
• A Statement of Affairs1993 · as Carol
• Bad Girl1992 · as Penny Armitage
• Top Girls1991 · as Marlene
• The Firm1989 · as Sue Bissell
• High Hopes1989 · as Lætitia Boothe-Brain
• Sammy and Rosie Get Laid1987 · as Margy
• High Season1987 · as Carol
• Christmas Present1985 · as Judy Tall
• The Moon Over Soho1985 · as Sally Spencer
• Dance with a Stranger1985 · as Maryanne
• Angels in the Annexe1984 · as Jenny Bailey
• Dog Ends1984 · as Vivienne
• Our Winnie1982 · as Liz
• Mike Leigh: Making Plays1982 · as Self (archive footage)
• Grown-Ups1980 · as Mandy
• Jack of Spades—

All TV Shows (60)

• Monster: The Ed Gein Story2025 · as Bernice Worden
• Moonflower Murders2024 · as Susan Ryeland
• Disclaimer2024 · as Nancy Brigstocke
• Grotesquerie2024 · as Nurse Redd
• Citadel2023 · as Dahlia Archer
• Dangerous Liaisons2022 · as Genevieve de Merteuil
• Sherwood2022 · as Julie Jackson
• Life After Life2022 · as Narrator
• Magpie Murders2022 · as Susan Ryeland
• Alan Bennett's Talking Heads2020 · as Susan
• Love Life2020 · as Narrator (voice)
• World on Fire2019 · as Robina Chase
• I Am...2019 · as Maria
• Harlots2017 · as Lydia Quigley
• The Crown2016 · as Princess Margaret
• Mum2016 · as Cathy
• River2015 · as Chrissie Read
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Guest
• Fleming2014 · as Evelyn Fleming
• Mayday2013 · as Gail Spicer
• The Queen2009 · as Margaret Thatcher
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Law & Order: UK2009
• Cranford2007 · as Mrs. Rose
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• North & South2004 · as Mrs. Maria Hale
• Bodily Harm2002 · as Mandy Greenfield
• Rose and Maloney2002 · as Professor Diane Marquis
• The Cazalets2001 · as Villy Cazalet
• David Copperfield2000 · as Emma Micawber
• Other People's Children2000 · as Nadine
• Black Cab2000 · as Yvonne
• Loose Women1999 · as Self
• Painted Lady1997 · as Susie Peel
• Holding On1997 · as Hilary
• Midsomer Murders1997 · as Phoebe Archbold
• The Bite1996 · as Ellie Shannon
• Silent Witness1996
• Tears Before Bedtime1995 · as Beattie Freeman
• Kavanagh Q.C.1995 · as Lucy Cartwright
• Little Napoleons1994 · as Judith Silver
• Ain't Misbehavin'1994 · as Melissa Quigley
• Goggle Eyes1993 · as Rosalind Killin
• The Mushroom Picker1993 · as Margot
• Performance1991 · as Marlene
• Soldier Soldier1991 · as Rachel Elliot
• Soldier Soldier1991 · as Rachel Fortune
• Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · as Mrs. Lorrimer
• ScreenPlay1986 · as Penny Armitage
• Screen Two1985 · as Sophie
• Screen Two1985 · as Sue
• Objects of Affection1982 · as Liz
• The Gentle Touch1980
• King Cinder1977 · as Nikki
• A Bunch of Fives1977 · as Helen Wyatt
• Playhouse1974 · as Mandy
• Play for Today1970 · as Vivienne
• Coronation Street1960 · as Jill Mason
• Marble Hall Murders— · as Susan Ryeland
• Escorted— · as Mother