Lesley Manville

Lesley Manville (born March 12, 1956, in Brighton, England) is a celebrated screen and stage actor whose career spans British theatre, film, and television. Known for her emotional precision and quietly formidable presence, she has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most consistently acclaimed performers.

Manville is especially associated with director Mike Leigh, contributing standout work across multiple collaborations. Her film credits include Secrets & Lies (as the Social Worker), All or Nothing (as Penny), and Vera Drake (as Mrs. Wells), alongside roles in Sammy and Rosie Get Laid and Topsy-Turvy. She made her screen debut in Dance with a Stranger (as Maryanne), signaling early on her gift for grounded, human storytelling.

International audiences also recognize Manville from prestige and mainstream projects alike, including Phantom Thread, which brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and a supporting turn in Maleficent. More recently, she appears in Back to Black as Cynthia and the thriller Cold Storage as Trini Romano.

Beyond the camera, Manville’s extensive theatre résumé includes productions of As You Like It, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and The Alchemist, underscoring the classical range behind her screen work.