A perfect and “obsessive” thriller: 7 of Lesley Manville’s best dramas, with a forgotten BBC sitcom

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Lesley Manville, a highly respected and Oscar-nominated actress, is a familiar face in British drama. Before becoming famous, like many actors, she got her start appearing in popular television soap operas. In the late 1970s, she was on Emmerdale (then called Emmerdale Farm) and later had a brief role on Coronation Street in the early 1980s.

Lesley Manville has a remarkable career, including appearances in popular British TV shows like Silent Witness and Poirot, where she even starred in a full-length Poirot mystery. Because she’s been in so much, choosing her best, most recent, and most memorable roles was tough! We’ve put together a list of dramas featuring Lesley Manville that you should check out, and we’ve even ranked them for you.

7. Monster: The Ed Gein Story

While the Netflix true-crime series has some flaws, Lesley Manville’s performance really stood out among a cast that includes well-known actors like Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hollander, and Addison Rae.

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She portrayed Bernice Worden, a shopkeeper in town whose life took a dark turn when she became connected to Ed Gein.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is available on Netflix.

6. Citadel

The thrilling spy series starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden quickly became a hit on Prime Video when it launched in 2023. It was one of the platform’s most popular original shows globally, ranking as the second most-watched series outside of the US and the fourth most-watched worldwide.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting the new season, with Lesley Manville reprising her role as Dahlia Archer, the British Ambassador.

Citadel is streaming on Prime Video.

5. Moonflower Murders

The BBC followed up its successful adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s Magpie Murders with a new series. Lesley Manville returned as Susan Ryeland, a book editor who finds herself solving mysteries, and was joined by Timothy McMullan, playing the detective Atticus Pünd.

I was so hooked on Moonflower Murders! Apparently, almost 5 million people tuned in to watch the series – it was one of the BBC’s biggest hits for a show they didn’t make themselves this year. And great news – they’re making one last mystery, Marble Hall Murders! We don’t know when it’ll be on yet, but I’m already excited!

Moonflower Murders is available on BBC iPlayer.

4. Sherwood

This popular BBC drama, set in Nottinghamshire and created by James Graham, features a strong cast including Lesley Manville, Lorraine Ashbourne, and David Morrissey.

The popular show Sherwood has been renewed for a third season, and will feature a new family as its central focus. While David Morrissey will return, the cast will also welcome Rosalie Craig, Joe Dempsie, and Sue Johnston.

Sherwood is available on BBC iPlayer.

3. Save Me Too

Lennie James’s popular thriller, Save Me, originally aired in 2018. James created and starred in the series as Nelson “Nelly” Rowe, and Suranne Jones played the role of his ex-partner and the mother of his child, who unexpectedly disappears.

Season two of the acclaimed drama welcomed Lesley Manville to the cast, alongside returning stars Stephen Graham, Kerry Godliman, Jason Flemyng, and Nadine Marshall. The season received perfect ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with a review in Metro praising it as a smart and improved follow-up to an already gripping mystery, saying it “wisely evolves from its stylistic first series.”

Save Me and Save Me Too aired on Sky and NOW.

2. Mum

This British comedy, created by Stefan Golaszewski, followed Cathy (played by Lesley Manville) as she navigated life after losing her husband, along with the rest of her family. It debuted in 2016, and Digital Spy praised it as potentially one of the year’s best comedies.

The show lasted three seasons, and each season received a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mum is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

1. I Am

Channel 4’s I Am…, a drama series created by Dominic Savage, showcases talented actors in unique, standalone episodes. Each episode focuses on a different woman and is named after her.

Lesley Manville stars in I Am Maria, an episode from the second series of the drama, which aired in 2021. The story follows Maria as she turns 60 and begins to confront her unhappiness in her relationship. Vicky McClure, Gemma Chan, and Kate Winslet have also appeared in starring roles in the series.

I Am is available on Channel 4.

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2026-02-19 19:20