Maxine Peake: ‘I have a healthy balance of inferiority complex and slightly prickly ego'

The Guardian

03-07-2025

Has your northern accent helped or hindered your career? Eluned51They do call a group of actors a 'moan' of actors. We like to have a good moan. When people hear a regional accent, they immediately make assumptions about your class, financial status and education. People generally think if you've got a strong regional accent, you can't do much else. Obviously there are amazing actors like Jodie Comer who smash that to pieces because people don't realise she's from Liverpool. But because I came out the traps with the northern accent it's probably helped.
Do you ever suffer from impostor syndrome and think: 'Why are people so fascinated by me?' RealEdPhillipsI don't ever think people are – I think they are generally quite bored by me! Of course I have impostor syndrome. When you don't get a job, you can't help but think: 'Why didn't I get that job? Why don't they think I'm good enough?' So there's a healthy balance of inferiority complex and slightly prickly ego.
What are your memories of filming Funny Cow? Michel3AmsterdamWe had such a good time because it was made with a bunch of friends. We managed to twist Paddy Considine's arm to be part of it. We had Stephen Graham, Christine Bottomley, John Bishop. All these amazing people, so it was quite colourful. I have always been fascinated by female comics' journeys through working men's clubs in the 70s, and the sacrifices and compromises they had to make. The material they were using was horrific, really. It was all about: 'How do you get noticed?' The answer was: 'If you can't beat them, join them.' The politics of the 70s seemed to come crashing down as we were filming it, with Brexit. So we wanted to do a bit of an exposé on British politics as well.
Which political figure in the Labour party would you most like to play? NorthwichTomI've always wanted to play Ellen Wilkinson, but I'm far too tall because she was a little bullet: smallish stature, but mighty of heart and soul. I went to drama school with Sally Hawkins, and thought she could play her and I could be Nancy Astor, even though I have no interest in her [Conservative] politics. But they were great friends, which I always thought would make a fascinating drama.
Did writing about and playing Beryl Burton in the BBC radio drama Beryl: A Love Story on Two Wheels inspire you to get on the saddle? HenleyRegattaI've always used a bike to get around. Once I started writing about Beryl, I joined a club and went on my first 50km ride and nearly died. But then I became addicted, and would go out three times a week and do 70 or 80km. So, yes, I was inspired by Beryl. I love the camaraderie and the freedom. It's like being a kid, getting on your bike with your pals. It's great.
Would you like to do more nihilistic action hero stuff, like you did in Black Mirror? ColdCountyHome
I remember an email came through saying: 'You've been offered Black Mirror, can you read the script quickly and let us know?' I said: 'I don't need to read it. It's Black Mirror. Count me in.' I loved doing it because it was the first time I had done anything remotely action based. I'd love to do something on horseback. Don't let the accent fool you: I used to ride a lot when I was younger. So I'd love to do a female western.
What was your most memorable moment on the rugby field? scarletnoirGetting absolutely thrashed by Keighley ladies amateur rugby league team, and trying to not get too severely injured. Our trainer used to say: 'Women hold grudges.' If you made a high tackle, even accidentally, you knew revenge was coming your way.
Could you persuade Craig Cash to reopen the doors of the Grapes for another series of Early Doors? TheSableHoundReturnsI have tried. We have all tried. We had such a great time. We just laughed from the beginning to the end of the day. It didn't feel like work. It really didn't. I shouldn't say this, but as you know, it was set in a pub, so we went out to an actual pub for a few drinks, then came back and filmed it on the set that looked like a pub. We are all still really close. We've had a few meet-ups and have said: 'Come on Craig, please.' We'd love to do it. But who knows? Line dancing with Diane Morgan in Mandy. Did you have prior experience or did you have to learn? mattyjjLuckily they just taught me on the day, so it was a new skill. That's my favourite screen death: being crushed to death by a disco ball. Only Diane Morgan could come up with that. We've been friends since drama school, so when she said: 'Would you come and be in this?' I was like: 'Absolutely. Why have you not asked me before?'
What was it like working with Mike Leigh in Peterloo? bumble
I wrote to Mike when I was at drama school, where I did my showcase with Sally Hawkins, a two-hander of the April De Angelis play, Playhouse Creatures. I said: 'We should write to Mike Leigh.' She said: 'Are you sure?' I said: 'We'll do a joint letter.' So we wrote to him and we got a call in, and the rest is history. He's brilliant. He loves actors. He has such a specific way of rehearsing and character development, but he's so thorough and – I don't know whether he'd like me saying – humble. There are no airs and graces about him. He's so passionate about what he does, and I just love the fact that he loves actors.
Happy Birthday! How do you feel at 50? TopTrampWell, on my next birthday in two weeks, I'll be 51. I'm at peace with the fact that I'm middle-aged now. I'm embracing it. Turning 40 was more difficult. Now I think: 'I'm still here', and that can't be looked upon lightly.
You narrated the Transmissions: The Definitive Story of Joy Division and New Order podcast. Top three New Order songs? CraigThePaigBizarre Love Triangle. True Faith. Temptation. I still remember getting Substance when I was a teenager at school. That album – even though it was a compilation – changed my life. I had it on double cassette. My mum would say: 'Go and set the table', and I couldn't hear her because I'd have it blasting in my ears on my Walkman.
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