Acting · Brighton, England, UK · Born March 12, 1956
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).
MovieNational Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
2026
as Marquise de Merteuil
MovieMidwinter Break
2026
as Stella
MovieWinter of the Crow
2026
as Joan Andrews
MovieCold Storage
2026
as Trini Romano
TVMonster: The Ed Gein Story
2025
as Bernice Worden
MovieMr. Burton
2025
as Ma Smith
MovieQueer
2024
as Doctor Cotter
TVMoonflower Murders
2024
as Susan Ryeland
TVDisclaimer
2024
as Nancy Brigstocke
TVGrotesquerie
2024
as Nurse Redd
MovieThe Critic
2024
as Annabel Land
MovieBack to Black
2024
as Cynthia
TVCitadel
2023
as Dahlia Archer
TVDangerous Liaisons
2022
as Genevieve de Merteuil
MovieMrs. Harris Goes to Paris
2022
as Ada Harris
TVSherwood
2022
as Julie Jackson
MovieEverything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men
2022
as The Mother
TVLife After Life
2022
as Narrator
TVMagpie Murders
2022
as Susan Ryeland
MovieLet Him Go
2020
as Blanche Weboy
TVAlan Bennett's Talking Heads
2020
as Susan
TVLove Life
2020
as Narrator (voice)
MovieMisbehaviour
2020
as Dolores Hope
MovieOrdinary Love
2019
as Joan
MovieMaleficent: Mistress of Evil
2019
as Flittle
TVWorld on Fire
2019
as Robina Chase
TVI Am...
2019
as Maria
MovieNational Theatre Live: LOVE
2018
as Herself/Introduced By
To Provide All People
2018
as Consultant Psychiatrist
MoviePhantom Thread
2017
as Cyril Woodcock
MovieThe Agency
2017
as Anthea
MovieHampstead
2017
as Fiona
TVHarlots
2017
as Lydia Quigley
MovieA Very British Brothel 2
2017
as Narrator (Voice)
MovieRupture
2016
as Dr. Nyman
TVThe Crown
2016
as Princess Margaret
MovieAlan Clarke: Out of His Own Light
2016
as Self
TVMum
2016
as Cathy
TVRiver
2015
as Chrissie Read
MovieThe Go-Between
2015
as Mrs. Maudsley
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Guest
MovieA Very British Brothel
2015
as Herself - Narrator (voice)
MovieMolly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism
2015
as Miss Adderstone
The One and Only Mike Leigh
2014
as Self
MovieMr. Turner
2014
as Mary Somerville
MovieGhosts
2014
as Helene Alving
MovieMaleficent
2014
as Flittle
TVFleming
2014
as Evelyn Fleming
MovieThe Christmas Candle
2013
as Bea Haddington
MovieAn Adventure in Space and Time
2013
as Heather Hartnell
MovieRomeo & Juliet
2013
as The Nurse
MovieA Five Star Life
2013
as Kate Sherman
TVMayday
2013
as Gail Spicer
MovieSpike Island
2012
as Margaret
MovieAshes
2012
as Cath
MovieAnother Year
2010
as Mary
MovieWomb
2010
as Judith
TVThe Queen
2009
as Margaret Thatcher
MovieA Christmas Carol
2009
as Mrs. Cratchit (voice)
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
TVLaw & Order: UK
2009
TVCranford
2007
as Mrs. Rose
MovieSparkle
2007
as Jill
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
MoviePerfect Parents
2006
as Sister Antonia
MovieThe Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael
2005
as Sarah
TVNorth & South
2004
as Mrs. Maria Hale
MovieVera Drake
2004
as Mrs. Wells
MoviePromoted to Glory
2003
as Capt. Annie Sullivan
MovieAll or Nothing
2002
as Penny
TVBodily Harm
2002
as Mandy Greenfield
TVRose and Maloney
2002
as Professor Diane Marquis
MoviePlain Jane
2002
as Dora Bruce
MovieDavid Copperfield
2001
as Emma Micawber
TVThe Cazalets
2001
as Villy Cazalet
TVDavid Copperfield
2000
as Emma Micawber
Other People's Children
2000
as Nadine
TVBlack Cab
2000
as Yvonne
MovieTopsy-Turvy
1999
as Lucy Gilbert
TVLoose Women
1999
as Self
MovieToy Boys
1999
as Mrs. Allen
MovieMilk
1999
as Fiona
TVPainted Lady
1997
as Susie Peel
TVHolding On
1997
as Hilary
TVMidsomer Murders
1997
as Phoebe Archbold
Dual Balls
1997
as Joanna
MovieSecrets & Lies
1996
as The Social Worker
The Bite
1996
as Ellie Shannon
TVSilent Witness
1996
Tears Before Bedtime
1995
as Beattie Freeman
TVKavanagh Q.C.
1995
as Lucy Cartwright
TVLittle Napoleons
1994
as Judith Silver
MovieO Mary This London
1994
as Sophie
TVAin't Misbehavin'
1994
as Melissa Quigley
Goggle Eyes
1993
as Rosalind Killin
A Statement of Affairs
1993
as Carol
The Mushroom Picker
1993
as Margot
MovieBad Girl
1992
as Penny Armitage
MovieTop Girls
1991
as Marlene
TVPerformance
1991
as Marlene
TVSoldier Soldier
1991
as Rachel Elliot
MovieThe Firm
1989
as Sue Bissell
MovieHigh Hopes
1989
as Lætitia Boothe-Brain
TVAgatha Christie's Poirot
1989
as Mrs. Lorrimer
MovieSammy and Rosie Get Laid
1987
as Margy
MovieHigh Season
1987
as Carol
TVScreenPlay
1986
as Penny Armitage
MovieChristmas Present
1985
as Judy Tall
MovieThe Moon Over Soho
1985
as Sally Spencer
MovieDance with a Stranger
1985
as Maryanne
TVScreen Two
1985
as Sophie
MovieAngels in the Annexe
1984
as Jenny Bailey
MovieDog Ends
1984
as Vivienne
Sharing Time
1984
as June
MovieOur Winnie
1982
as Liz
TVObjects of Affection
1982
as Liz
MovieMike Leigh: Making Plays
1982
as Self (archive footage)
MovieGrown-Ups
1980
as Mandy
TVThe Gentle Touch
1980
TVKing Cinder
1977
as Nikki
A Bunch of Fives
1977
as Helen Wyatt
TVPlayhouse
1974
as Mandy
TVPlay for Today
1970
as Vivienne
TVCoronation Street
1960
as Jill Mason
Jack of Spades
Marble Hall Murders
as Susan Ryeland
Escorted
as Mother
