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Maxine Peake

(1974-), Actress

Sitter in 1 portrait
Born in Bolton, Peake moved to London after gaining a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She came to prominence in the television comedies Dinnerladies (1998-2000) and Shameless (2004-7), while her performance as Myra Hindley in See No Evil (2006) marked her ability to take on challenging roles. Her portrayal of Joan Le Mesurier, who had an affair with the comedian Tony Hancock, in Hancock & Joan (2008) won her a Best Actress BAFTA award. She has also played the heroine Martha Costello in the BBC's legal drama Silk (2011-12). Peake’s film credits include Gwen (2019), the Oscar-winning The Theory of Everything (2014), Mike Leigh’s Peterloo (2018) and Funny Cow (2018). Her stage roles include How To Hold Your Breath and Mother Theresa Is Dead both at the Royal Court, Avalanche: A Love Story at the Barbican (2019), The Masque of Anarchy for Manchester International Festival (2012) and Miss Julie at the Theatre Royal Haymarket (2000). Peake has also enjoyed success as a writer. Her first play, Beryl, about the Leeds cyclist Beryl Burton, was staged at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2014, The Last Testament Of Lillian Bilocca at Hull Truck as part of Hull City of Culture and Queens of the Coal Age (2018) told the story of coal pit closure protests by miners’ wives in Northern England. Peake is passionate about politics; she joined Communist organisations in her youth and remains a committed socialist. Throughout her career, she has also advocated for better representation of working class, northern and female voices on stage, screen and television

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Maxine Peake, by Jonathan Oakes - NPG x134940

Maxine Peake

by Jonathan Oakes
chromogenic print, 19 April 2011
NPG x134940

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