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Maxine Peake

Actor

Maxine Peake

Born July 14, 1974 in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England, UK60 films

Maxine Peake (born 14 July 1974) is an English stage, radio, film and television actress, playwright, producer, director and political activist, who made her name as Twinkle in Victoria Wood's sitcom Dinnerladies. She has since played Veronica in Channel 4's Manchester-based drama series Shameless, barrister Martha Costello in the BBC legal drama Silk and Grace Middleton in The Village. She is also an accomplished stage actress, having played the title role in Hamlet, and had a role in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything. In 2018 she played the lead in the film Funny Cow and had a starring role in Mike Leigh's epic Peterloo, a film very close to her heart.

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I Swear posterFirst watchI Swear20258.3as DottieDiagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 15, John Davidson navigates his way against the odds through troubled teenage years and into adulthood, finding inspiration in the kindness of others to…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Theory of Everything poster7.8The Theory of Everything2014Wendell & Wild poster6.6Wendell & Wild2022All or Nothing poster7.1All or Nothing2002Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980 poster6.9Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 19802009Peterloo poster6.7Peterloo2018Clubbed poster6.7Clubbed2008The Falling poster5.1The Falling2015The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister poster6.5The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister2010

Filmography

60 films as actor
  1. TBAThe Bright Side Running Club
  2. 2026Crackula
  3. 2025Laundreams
  4. 2025The Occupant of the RoomThe Englishwoman (voice)
  5. 2025I SwearDottie
  6. 2025Words of WarAnna Politkovskaya
  7. 2024WokenHelen
  8. 2023Dance FirstBarbara
  9. 2023Choked UpFiona Lacey
  10. 2022Wendell & WildIrmgard Klaxon (voice)
  11. 2022Inner Polar BearNarrator (voice)
  12. 2022Lapushka!Scoot Piccolo
  13. 2022Something Out of Nothing
  14. 2021Where We Used to Meet
  15. 2020SurfacesAlix
  16. 2020It's MeMiriam
  17. 2019Fanny Lye Deliver'dFanny Lye
  18. 2019Be Still My Beating Heart
  19. 2019JudyJudy
  20. 2018PeterlooNellie
  21. 2018GwenElen
  22. 2018Funny CowFunny Cow
  23. 2017The Priest
  24. 2017Men Who Sleep in CarsSarah
  25. 2017Cake
  26. 2017UnseenEmma
  27. 2016A Midsummer Night's DreamTitania
  28. 2016Red TopRebekah Brooks
  29. 2016I Wish For YouGrown Up Mia
  30. 2015The FallingEileen Lamont
  31. 2015HamletHamlet
  32. 2015Strange WeatherJane
  33. 2015The ShuttleworthsHelen Bach
  34. 2014The Theory of EverythingElaine Mason
  35. 2014Keeping RosyCharlotte
  36. 2014Run & JumpVanetia
  37. 2013Keeping Up with the JonesesCelia
  38. 2013SvengaliAngie
  39. 2013The Heart Fails Without WarningMother
  40. 2012Private PeacefulHazel Peaceful
  41. 2012Best Laid PlansIsabel
  42. 2011DeafBlindMaggie
  43. 2010EdgeElly
  44. 2010Imaginary FriendPauline
  45. 2010The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne ListerAnne Lister
  46. 2009Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980Helen Marshall
  47. 2008ClubbedAngela
  48. 2008Hancock & JoanJoan Le Mesurier
  49. 2008Bike SquadWPC Kate McFay
  50. 2007Would Like To MeetGeorge's Mum
  51. 2007I Am BobMarilyn Monroe Lookalike/Compere's Assistant
  52. 2007Confessions of a Diary SecretaryTracey Temple
  53. 2006The Madness of the Dance
  54. 2006The Fear of Trilogy
  55. 2005FrozenTicket Attendant
  56. 2005FaithLinda
  57. 2004Christmas LightsPauline
  58. 2002All or NothingParty girl
  59. 2002Hamilton MattressLulu (voice)
  60. 1998Girls' NightSharon