Who Do You Think You Are? - Lesley Manville - 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 22 on Really

About this Broadcast

Lesley Manville
Season 20, Episode 9

Actress Lesley Manville researches her family tree. So far as her mother's side is concerned, by delving deep into Brighton's local archives, Lesley uncovers a complex story of wartime separation, adultery and the inaccessibility of divorce. Tracing back her father's line sees Lesley trying to solve what happened to her ancestor Aaron Harding. A widower with a large family to feed, Aaron protested poor conditions and pay as an agricultural worker in 1830 - a protest that would become known as the Swing Riots. He was arrested and subsequently transported to Australia

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Education/Science/Factual Topics Family And Friends History

Did You Know..

Phil Davis (Narrator)

Born: July 30, 1953 in Grays, Essex

Best Known For: Bleak House.

Early-life: Born Philip Davis on 30 July, 1953, in Grays, Essex. His father worked in the local soap factory; his mother was a hospital cleaner. He enjoyed three seasons at the National Youth Theatre in his mid-teens, then landed a part in Barrie Keefe's play Gotcha about troubled teens, which later transitioned to TV, and he came to the attention of casting directors. He was then cast in cult film Quadrophenia.

Career: Davis's career took off and he played a huge range of roles throughout the 1980s and 90s. He was Prince John in the TV series Robin of Sherwood. He also took on Hollywood roles, starring in The Bounty, alongside Mel Gibson. In 2004 came Davis's much acclaimed performance in Vera Drake, the Oscar-nominated Mike Leigh film. He gained massive praise for his performance, and won the Best Actor award at the British Independent Film Awards. TV roles have included major hits like Inspector Morse, Bleak House, Fields of Gold, Sherlock, North Square, Rose and Malony, White Teeth, Doctor Who and Beau Brummell, and he is also an accomplished director.

Quote: 'I just do it. It's like asking a painter about painting. They dip the brush and put it on the canvas. All I know is that if something isn't brilliant, there's no reason that you can't deliver it to the best of your ability.'

Trivia: In 1980, Davis had a brief spell as a music artist when he recorded the song Blown It for Elton John's The Rocket Record Company.

Lesley Manville (Contributor)

Born: March 12, 1956 in Brighton

Best Known For: Her work with director Mike Leigh.

Early-life: Lesley was born in Brighton on March 12, 1956. She trained as a soprano singer from the age of eight and went on to secure a place at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. She made her professional stage debut in the 1972 West End musical I and Albert and had a recurring role on Emmerdale Farm in the mid-1970s, playing Rosemary Kendall.

Career: A frequent collaborator with Mike Leigh, Manville has appeared in a number of his films, including Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Another Year (2010) and Mr Turner (2014). In 2011, she starred in Mike Leigh's play Grief at the National Theatre. Her other stage roles include His Dark Materials, The Alchemist, All About My Mother, Her Naked Skin, Six Degrees of Separation, and Ghosts, for which she won an Olivier Award. On the small screen, Manville has starred in David Copperfield, The Cazalets, North & South, and Cranford. More recently, she has appeared in Mayday, Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond, and River.

Quote: 'I think that distributors and marketing companies realise that there are a huge number of women over 40 who want to go the cinema and see films about themselves.'

Trivia: Manville received an OBE in the 2015 Birthday Honours.

Bernadette Ross (Producer)

John Das (Director)

Sarah Feltes (Series editor)

Colette Flight (Executive producer)