Lesley Manville approaches TV roles with an open mind, indifferent to the platform they are broadcast on. “My job is just to go there and deliver a character,” she states, emphasizing that whether it’s the BBC, ITV, or Netflix, it doesn’t matter to her.
Although known for her roles in “Mum,” “Sherwood,” and “The Crown,” Manville hasn’t been a frequent presence on television lately. Instead, she has been focusing on theater, having recently won a Tony Award for “Oedipus” on Broadway, following an Olivier Award for the same role in the West End. She also returned to London this spring for “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” at the National Theatre.
During the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Manville shared her experience of presiding over the fiction jury. “Because I’ve been on stage with two different plays for the last nine months, I have quite literally watched no television until now,” she remarks. Her limited viewing during this period included Stephen Colbert’s late-night show and the news at midnight after her performances.
As the awards ceremony approached, Manville was unable to reveal the jury’s opinions on the shortlisted series. “Some of them are deeply impressive, but of course it’s all subjective,” she notes, adding that as a jury, “we were all very much on the same page.”
Her fellow jurors included Kevin McKidd from “Grey’s Anatomy,” French actress Frédérique Bel, American TV creator Greg Daniels, “Heartstopper” star Yasmin Finney, and Korean media strategist Hojin Kwon. “And they’re a very bright, very intelligent group,” Manville praises. The group engaged in extensive deliberations, but she acknowledges, “you can only judge it by your own standards. It’s like when you read a critique about a job you’ve done, it’s one person’s view.”
Manville admits to reading reviews of her work across films, TV, and theater. “Always, yeah, but if you don’t like me then you don’t like me. I’m not gonna give up,” she asserts.
When choosing acting roles, Manville considers the writing above all else, followed by other factors like the director, co-stars, and location. “Do I have to go to the North Pole for six months? No, thank you!” she quips, emphasizing that it starts with the script, questioning if the part is intriguing and perhaps a new challenge for her.
Reflecting on her recent theater experiences, she shares, “As soon as I read ‘Oedipus’ I just thought ‘Nobody’s getting this but me.'” With “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” she notes a personal connection, having been in the original production 40 years ago as the young girl, making her return feel like a complete circle.
Regarding her television work, Manville finds it difficult to choose favorites. “But before I knew I was going to be in ‘The Crown’ I loved the show,” she recalls. After being cast, she revisited the series, finding it an extraordinary and beautifully crafted achievement that met her expectations when she joined it.
