You can now watch The Lady in the Van on BBC iPlayer. This heartwarming drama features Maggie Smith and Roger Allam (known for Endeavour) and tells the true story of Miss Shepherd, a woman living in her van who unexpectedly finds a home on the driveway of playwright Alan Bennett. It was directed by Nicholas Hytner.
The movie, which came out in 2015 and is based on Bennett’s own life story, features Alex Jennings as Alan and Allam as the man who lives next door to Bennett.
The already impressive British cast also includes renowned actors like Jim Broadbent, Claire Foy, Dominic Cooper, and Frances de la Tour.
You can now watch The Lady in the Van on BBC iPlayer if you have a TV license, following its broadcast on BBC One last night.
The film is both a critical and audience favorite, earning an 89% ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes after 151 reviews.
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According to The New York Times, Ms. Smith plays Mary as a difficult, but sensible, woman clinging to life with eccentric ideas. The review notes that Mary isn’t particularly likable, and that’s actually a strength of the performance.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the film is “wonderfully funny and deeply touching,” and it showcases the remarkable talent of Maggie Smith, featuring some hilariously rundown cars along the way.
I checked out the IMDb page for this movie, and it’s sitting at a 6.7/10. One of the reviewers put it perfectly: it’s a really memorable film about a super rigid, emotionally closed-off guy and a troubled woman living on the streets with strong religious beliefs – definitely not something you easily forget!
One viewer praised Maggie Smith, saying she consistently delivers fantastic performances, especially in The Lady in the Van. They described the movie – which tells the true story of an eccentric woman – as charming and heartwarming.
Another viewer said the story was both sweet and deeply sad, calling it a charming little drama with a lot of funny moments, largely thanks to Maggie’s performance.
The Lady in the Van is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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2026-07-28 13:50