Movie reviews, production notes, and more! - "Vera Drake"

Movie : Vera Drake

Notes Provided by Fine Line Features SYNOPSIS London, 1950 - Vera Drake lives in a small flat with her husband Stan, and their grown-up son and daughter, Sid and Ethel. The family is not rich, but their combined incomes make for a reasonable life. Vera is a cleaner, Stan a mechanic in his brother Frank's garage, and Ethel works in a light-bulb factory. Sid is an apprentice tailor. The Drakes have something money can't buy: they are a genuinely happy family. Vera is always helping people. She regularly visits one sick neighbor, and invites another, Reg, to supper because she thinks he isn't eating properly. Vera cleans the houses of the "well-to-do." In one of these, we encounter Susan, the daughter of the family. Vera visits a house that is much shabbier than those of her employers. A distressed young woman is waiting. Vera offers her kind words of reassurance as she removes various items from her bag, and proceeds to perform an abortion. This is Vera's secret life that she has never discussed with her family. They are totally unaware of her activities, which were of course illegal in England until the late 1960's. We see the perennially cheerful Vera visiting a number of pregnant women. They vary in age, but all are working- or lower-middle class. Her appointments are made through Lily, whom she has known since they were children, and who now operates a black market service for items such as tea and sugar, which are still in short supply in post-war England. Susan, meanwhile, has been raped by a date, and finds herself pregnant. She seeks advice from an experienced older woman, and, following visits to a private doctor and a psychiatrist (to whom she has to demonstrate instability), she attends an expensive and discreet private clinic. Her parents are quite unaware of her termination and of her ordeal. Vera's home life goes on happily, as before. Reg quickly becomes part of the family, and starts to "walk out" with the somewhat introverted Ethel. Eventually, he proposes marriage, and she accepts, much to everybody's delight. Sid enjoys the life of an urban post-war young man, and Stan continues to work for Frank, whose 1930's semi-detached house contrasts vividly with Vera and Stan's small if clean tenement flat. While Frank is extremely fond of his brother and family, his wife Joyce, with her upwardly mobile material aspirations, looks down on them. One weekend, a girl whom Vera has "helped" is suddenly taken ill, and is rushed into hospital. It is obvious to the doctor what has happened, and the girl's mother reluctantly admits the truth when the police are called in. Frank and Joyce go to Vera and Stan's flat one Sunday to celebrate Ethel and Reg's engagement, and to announce their own news - that Joyce is expecting their first child. They have barely broken this news when there is a knock on the door. Stan opens it, to discover the police, who enter and ask to see Vera. They will not reveal to the family the reason for their intrusion. The Detective Inspector, his Detective Sergeant and the uniformed policewoman accompany a stunned Vera into the bedroom. She knows why they have come. Barely able to speak, she admits everything, and, at their request, produces her abortion kit from a cupboard. Still with no explanation given to the increasingly distressed family, Vera is taken away in a police car. Stan follows on foot in the snow, while the others stay behind. At the police station, Vera is interrogated further, and then makes and signs a statement, while a perplexed Stan waits, still in the dark. Detective Inspector Webster is as sympathetic and as patient as possible. Vera explains how she just tries to help girls who are in trouble. Her sole motive is compassion. She is horrified at the suggestion that she might have received money for doing this, and is deeply shocked to discover that Lily has been charging the women fees. Vera is now formally charged with her crime, and Inspector Webster suggests that since Stan is inevitably going to find out the truth anyway, why doesn't she tell him herself? The Inspector brings in the bewildered Stan, and Vera confesses all. Stunned, Stan goes home. His reaction is to be understanding and supportive, but he is angry as well. Ethel is distressed, and Sid is at first furious and disgusted, but later relents. After a night in a cell, Vera appears before the magistrate, and with no opposition from the police, she is released on bail. Vera is completely traumatized by what has happened. Just before Christmas, she is brought back before the magistrate's court, and she is committed to trial in January. Christmas at the Drake flat is a subdued affair. Joyce makes it clear that she would rather not be there, but Reg declares it's the best Christmas he's had in a long time. Prior to the criminal trial, Vera's solicitor tells her that none of her employers will give her a character reference, and that the shortest sentence they can hope for is eighteen months. At the trial, in spite of the effort of her defense lawyer to emphasize her strong moral character, and the fact the she did not profit from her "crimes", the judge determines to make an example of Vera Drake, and she is sent to prison for two-and-a-half years. In the women's prison, Vera talks to two other inmates, both abortionists. They are serving longer sentences than hers because their clients both died. They assure her that, as a first-time offender, she will have to serve only half her sentence. Meanwhile, at the flat, Stan, Sid, Ethel and Reg sit around the table all lost for words CREW BIOGRAPHIES MIKE LEIGH, FILM AND TELEVISION CREDITS Bleak Moments (1971) - III min Chicago Film Festival 1972 Grand Prix (Golden Hugo) Locarno Film Festival 1972 Grand Prix (Golden Leopard) Hard Labour (1973) - 75 min The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final (1975) - 5 min Old Chums (1975) - 5 min Probation (1975) - 5 min Afternoon (1975) - 5 min A Light Snack (1975) - 5 min The Permissive Society (1975) - 5 min Nuts in May (1975) - 75 min Knock for Knock (1976) - 3o min The Kiss of Death (1976) - 8o min Abigail's Party (1977) - 104 min Who's Who (1978) - 80 min Grown-Ups (1980) - 9o min Home Sweet Home (1982) - 9o min Meantime (1983) - 9o min Berlin Film Festival 1984 (Forum) People's prize Four Days in July (1984) - 96 min The Short and Curlies (1987) - 18 min Cork Film Festival 1988 Best Short Film High Hopes (1988) - IIO min Venice Film Festival 1988 Critics' prize London Evening Standard 1988 Peter Sellers Best Comedy Award European Film Awards 1988: European Film of the Year, Best Actress (Ruth Sheen) Best Supporting Actress (Edna Doré), Best Music (Andrew Dickson) Life is Sweet (1991) - 102 min Europacinema Academia Italiana 1991 Best Film Taormina Film Festival 1991 Best Film Taormina Maschera Di Polifermo (awarded for the first time to the whole cast) Geneva 1992 Stars de Demain Best Actress (Claire Skinner) National Society of Film Critics 1991: Best Film, Best Actress (Alison Steadman), Best Supporting Actress (Jane Horrocks) Los Angeles Film Critics Association 1991 Best Actress (Jane Horrocks) A Sense of History (1992) - 28 min Clermont-Ferrand 1993 Best Short Film Naked (1993) - 126 min Cannes Film Festival 1993 Best Director, Best Actor (David Thewlis) Toronto Film Festival 1993 Metro Media Award San Sebastian Film Festival 1993 Author 'g3 Jury Prize Haugesund Film Festival 1993 Best European Film Cinequest/ TV Ontario 1993 Best Foreign Film Geneva 1993 Stars de Demain Best European Female Newcomer (Katrin Cartlidge) New York Film Critics Circle Award 1993 Best Actor (David Thewlis) Boston Society of Film Critics 1993 Runner up Best Actor (David Thewlis) National Society of Film Critics 1993 Best Actor (David Thewlis) Stockholm Film Festival Mont Blanc Award for Best Original Screenplay London Evening Standard Award 1994 Best Actor (David Thewlis) Secrets and Lies (1996) - 141 min Cannes Film Festival 1996 Palme d'Or, Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn) Fipresci International Critics Award Ecumenical Festival Award Sydney Film Festival 1996 Most Popular Film, Best Film - critics' poll Los Angeles Film Critics Association 1997 Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn) Golden Globe Awards 1997 Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn), Nominated Best Supporting Actress and Best Film Southbank Show Award 1996 for Cinema Empire Magazine 1996 Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn) Spanish Goya 1996 Best Foreign Film French Critics' Prize for Best Foreign Film of 1996 Academy Award Nominations 1997: Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn) Best Supporting Actress (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) BAFTA Awards 1997: Best Original Screenplay Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn) Humanitas Prize 1997 1997 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Foreign Film Kinema Jumpo Award (Japan) for Best Foreign Film 1997 Career Girls (1997) - 90 min London Evening Standard Award 1997 Best Actress (Katrin Cartlidge) Topsy-Turvy (1999) - 159 min Venice Film Festival 1999 Best Actor (Jim Broadbent) New York Film Critics Circle Best Picture, Best Director (Mike Leigh) National Society of Film Critics Best Picture, Best Director (Mike Leigh) Academy Awards 2000: Best Makeup & Hair Design - Winner, Best Costume Design - Winner Nominations: Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design BAFTA Awards 2000 Best Makeup & Hair Design - Winner Nominations: Best Original Screenplay, Best British Film Evening Standard Awards 2000 Best Film, Best Actor (Jim Broadbent) All or Nothing (2001) - 128 min London Film Critics' Circle 2003 Best British Film, Best British Actress (Lesley Manville) Evening Standard Award 2003 Best Technical Achievement (Eve Stewart) SIMON CHANNING WILLIAMS, PRODUCER Simon Channing Williams' association with Mike Leigh began when he worked as first assistant director on the 1980 BBC film 'Grown-Ups'. After working with Leigh again as co-producer on the BAFTA nominated short film 'The Short and Curlies' and as producer on the feature film 'High Hopes', Channing Williams and Leigh decided to form an on-going partnership and set up Thin Man Films for the purpose. Their first project for Thin Man was the feature 'Life is Sweet', which gained critical honors and won new audiences for Leigh's work internationally. They then collaborated on the 1992 short 'A Sense of History', named Best Short film at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival, the multi-award-winning 'Naked', the Palme d'Or winning 'Secrets and Lies', 'Career Girls', the Oscar-winning 'Topsy-Turvy' and, most recently, 'All or Nothing'. Outside of his relationship with Mike Leigh and Thin Man Films, Simon Channing Williams has produced several other projects, including 'Puccini' for director Tony Palmer, the feature films 'When the Whales Came', 'Jack and Sarah', which was a hit at the UK box-office in 1995, Doug McGrath's 'Nicholas Nickleby', and, most recently, Paddy Breathnach's 'Man About Dog'. He is currently in production on Fernando Meirelles' 'The Constant Gardener', starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz and based on the novel by John Le Carre. As Executive Producer, Channing Williams' credits include the BAFTA nominated 'Little Pig Robinson' (TVS) directed by Alan Bridges, the short film 'The Pan Loaf', winner of a Silver Hugo at the Chicago Film Festival and Best Short Film at the Cork Film Festival, and Irwin Winkler's Cannes 2004 closing night film, 'De-Lovely'. ALAIN SARDE, PRODUCER Alain Sarde began his film career in 1976 with Roman Polanski's 'The Tenant' and Andre Techine's 'Barocco'. He is one of France's foremost producers, alternating mainstream and art house projects. He has produced more than 150 films with directors including Jean-Luc Godard, Roman Polanski, Pierre Granier-Deferre, George Lautner, Andre Techine, Bertrand Tavernier, Alain Corneau, Bertrand Blier, Nicole Garcia, Coline Serreau, Jeanne Labrune, Daniele Thompson, David Lynch, Claude Sautet, Patrice Leconte and Jacques Doillon. His next project, 'Oliver Twist', reunites him with Roman Polanski. Their most recent collaboration, 'The Pianist', won the Cannes Palme d'Or, three Oscars, two BAFTA awards and seven Cesars. DICK POPE, BSC, CINEMATOGRAPHER Dick Pope has worked with Mike Leigh on 'Life is Sweet', 'Naked', 'Secrets and Lies', 'Career Girls', 'Topsy-Turvy', 'All or Nothing' and his television short 'A Sense of History'. At Camerimage (the International Festival of the Art of Cinematography) Pope won the main prize in 1996 for his work on 'Secrets and Lies', and in 2000 he and Mike Leigh won for best director/cinematographer collaboration. His feature film credits include Beeban Kidron's 'Amy Foster', Anthony Neilson's 'The Debt Collector', Chris McQuarrie's 'The Way of the Gun', Jill Sprecher's 'Thirteen Conversations About One Thing' and Doug McGrath's 'Nicholas Nickleby'. JIM CLARK, EDITOR Jim Clark is a distinguished veteran film editor who has worked with many directors including John Schlesinger, Stanley Donen, Michael Apted, and more recently Richard Loncraine for whom he edited 'The Gathering Storm', an award-winner for HBO. He received the Academy Award for Roland Joffe's 'The Killing Fields'. Jim also worked with David Puttnam and Roland Joffe on 'The Mission', and was part of Puttnam's team at Columbia Pictures. Jim also edited a James Bond movie: 'The World is Not Enough'. EVE STEWART, PRODUCTION DESIGNER Eve Stewart was nominated for an Oscar for Best Production Design for Mike Leigh's 'Topsy-Turvy' and has also worked with him as production designer on 'All or Nothing' (for which she won an Evening Standard Award for Technical Achievement), as production and costume designer on 'Career Girls', as art director on 'Secrets and Lies', 'Naked' and 'A Sense of History' and as designer of his play 'Smelling A Rat'. She is currently working on `The Dark' with John Fawcett and other film credits include 'De-Lovely', 'Cheeky', 'Wondrous Oblivion', 'Nicholas Nickleby', 'The Hole', 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang', and 'Saving Grace'. Eve Stewart worked with Nike on their 2002 World Cup Campaign with Terry Gilliam, VW and McDonalds. In theatre, she was Head of Design at the Nottingham Playhouse and the New Vic at Stoke. In 2002, Stewart designed for the filmed George Harrison concert 'A Concert for George' at the Royal Albert Hall and she has also designed `King Lear' at the National Theatre and 'Little Shop of Horrors'. Eve Stewart is the recipient of three Best Window prizes from The Evening Standard Awards for her work at Harvey Nichols and she has worked with the Cliveden House Hotel, where she designed the Stable Restaurant, Main Dining Room and Poolside Restaurant. She has also worked as a book illustrator and a presenter on the television series 'Homefront'. ANDREW DICKSON, MUSIC VERA DRAKE marks Andrew Dickson's sixth collaboration with Mike Leigh following 'Meantime', `High Hopes', 'Naked', 'Secrets and Lies' and 'All or Nothing'. As well as writing music for numerous television projects, Dickson also has extensive theatre credits as an actor, musician, director, writer and composer. He has written music and songs for many theatre companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court, Hull Truck, Nottingham Playhouse, Sheffield Crucible, Leicester Haymarket and Liverpool Everyman. He has also staged several large-scale community plays in the west of England. JACQUELINE DURRAN, COSTUME DESIGNER VERA DRAKE is Jacqueline Durran's second film with Mike Leigh, after 'All or Nothing', which marked her first solo work as a costume designer. Previously she had collaborated for several years with designer Lindy Hemming on numerous projects including 'Topsy-Turvy' for which Hemming won the Oscar. Recently, Jacqueline Durran was costume designer on 'Young Adam', starring Ewan McGregor, on the Broadway production of 'Medea' starring Fiona Shaw for director Deborah Warner, and on the film 'Yes' starring Joan Allen and Sam Neill, for director Sally Potter. CHRISTINE BLUNDELL, MAKE-UP AND HAIR DESIGN VERA DRAKE marks Christine Blundell's seventh collaboration with Mike Leigh following 'Life is Sweet', 'Naked', 'Secrets and Lies', 'Career Girls', 'Topsy-Turvy', for which she won an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Make-up, and 'All or Nothing'. Her other recent credits include Mike Nichols' 'Closer', on which she was Personal Make-up Artist to Natalie Portman, 'Around the World in 80 Days', 'Cheeky', 'Finding Neverland', 'To Kill a King', 'The Full Monty' and 'Seven Years in Tibet' on which she designed David Thewlis's hair and make-up. CAST BIOGRAPHIES IMELDA STAUNTON / Vera Drake VERA DRAKE marks Imelda Staunton's first collaboration with Mike Leigh. One of the UK's best-known stage and television actresses, Imelda Staunton has also been seen in numerous feature films, including the Oscar-winning 'Shakespeare in Love' and `Sense and Sensibility', as well as `Crush', `Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Peter's Friends'. Recent television roles include the Queen Mother in `Cambridge Spies' and Mrs. Micawber in `David Copperfield'. For her stage work, Imelda Staunton has won three Oliviers, the UK's most prestigious theatre award: Best Supporting Actress for `The Corn is Green' at the Old Vic and Alan Ayckbourn's 'A Chorus of Disapproval' at the National Theatre, and Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as the Baker's Wife in the original London production of Stephen Sondheim's 'Into the Woods'. She has appeared regularly at the National Theatre, most notably as Miss Adelaide in Richard Eyre's production of 'Guys and Dolls'. At the National, she also worked with Eyre on 'The Beggar's Opera' and 'Schweyk in the Second World War', and with Matthew Warchus on 'Life X 3'. Other London stage appearances include three productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as Sonya in Michael Blakemore's production of 'Uncle Vanya' at the Vaudeville Theatre and with Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn in Sam Mendes' production of 'Habeas Corpus' at the Donmar Warehouse. She was most recently seen in Michael Hastings' 'Calico' at the Duke of York's Theatre. PHIL DAVIS / Stan (Vera's husband) Phil Davis is probably best-known to film-goers for his role as Cyril, the motorcycle courier, in Mike Leigh's 1989 'High Hopes'. Prior to this he had worked with the director on the television films 'Who's Who' and 'Grown-Ups'. He also made a brief appearance in 'Secrets and Lies'. Davis is a well-known face on British television, most recently in the highly acclaimed 'North Square' and the adaptation of Zadie Smith's 'White Teeth', and perhaps most notably in Alan Clark's legendary, 'The Firm'. On stage Phil Davis was last seen in Christopher Hampton's 'Tales from Hollywood' at the Donmar Warehouse, while other film appearances include 'Nicholas Nickleby', 'Face', 'Alien III', `The Bounty' and 'Quadrophenia'. Phil Davis has also directed two feature films (`Hold Back the Night' and 'id') and for television (`Prime Suspect 5' and 'Real Women'). PETER WIGHT / Detective Inspector Webster (leader of the investigation) VERA DRAKE marks Peter Wight's fourth collaboration with Mike Leigh following 'Meantime', `Secrets and Lies' and `Naked', in which he plays the security guard who encounters David Thewlis's Johnny towards the end of the film. A recognizable face from numerous British television series, including the acclaimed 'Out of the Blue', and, more recently, Craig Cash's `Early Doors', in which he has a recurring role as a work-shy policeman, Peter Wight has also been seen in many films. He has extensive stage credits throughout the UK, including work with the National Theatre, Shared Experience and with the Royal Shakespeare Company. ADRIAN SCARBOROUGH / Frank (Stan's brother) A highly-acclaimed stage actor, Adrian Scarborough has appeared in supporting roles in several recent films including 'Bright Young Things', `Gosford Park' (as one of the downstairs staff), `Dirty Pretty Things' and `Love is the Devil' (as Daniel Farson). On television he made an impact as Quiggin in the 1996 adaptation of 'A Dance to the Music of Time'. He has worked extensively at the National Theatre: as Flute for Robert Lepage in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and as Mole for Nicholas Hytner in `The Wind in the Willows'. Other National productions include Hytner's `The Recruiting Officer', Richard Eyre's production of David Hare's trilogy of `Racing Demon', `Murmuring Judges' and `The Absence of War', and `Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead' in which he appeared as Rosencrantz. Elsewhere, he has been seen in Howard Davies' production of 'Vassa' at the Albery Theatre, in 'To the Green Fields Beyond' for Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse, in 'Platanov' for Jonathan Kent at the Almeida, in the West End transfer of `Humble Boy', and, most recently, in Robert Delamere's Donmar Warehouse production of Dario Fo's 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist.' HEATHER CRANEY / Joyce (Frank's wife, Vera and Stan's sister-in-law) Heather Craney appeared as one of Timothy Spall's taxi passengers in Mike Leigh's 'All or Nothing', and was also seen as Violet Russell in 'Topsy-Turvy'. She has performed in regional theatre throughout the UK, most recently at Liverpool Playhouse in Noel Coward's `Still Life' and `Astonished Heart'. In the West End she was in Michael Grandage's revival of Peter Nichols' `Passion Play' and her television work includes 'The Bill' and `Silent Witness'. DANIEL MAYS / Sid (Vera and Stan's son) Daniel Mays has worked with Mike Leigh before when he played Jason, the psychotic boyfriend, in 'All or Nothing'. A RADA graduate, he has worked extensively at the Royal Court, most recently as the lead in Vassily Sigarev's critically acclaimed, 'Ladybird'. Television roles include 'EastEnders', 'Bodily Harm' and 'Tipping the Velvet'. Film credits include 'Pearl Harbor' and the leading role of Jason in Antonia Bird's 'Rehab' for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Palmare-Reims Television Festival this year. ALEX KELLY / Ethel (Vera and Stan's daughter) Like VERA DRAKE co-star Heather Craney, Alex Kelly was last seen as one of the passengers in Timothy Spall's mini-cab in 'All or Nothing'. She has appeared in numerous television series, including 'Tipping the Velvet', and extensively on stage. She appeared in several productions at the National Theatre, most notably as Cunegonde in John Caird's production of 'Candide'. SALLY HAWKINS / Susan (daughter of rich family for whom Vera cleans) RADA-trained Sally Hawkins made her film debut as Samantha in 'All or Nothing', and has since filmed Matthew Vaughan's 'Layer Cake'. On stage she has appeared in numerous productions and was seen as Hermia in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and Hero in 'Much Ado About Nothing' at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Her television credits include 'Tipping the Velvet', 'Byron', in which she played Mary Shelley, 'Little Britain', 'Promoted To Glory' and 'The Young Visitors'. EDDIE MARSAN / Reg (neighbor and soon to be son-in-law of the Drakes) VERA DRAKE is Eddie Marsan's first film with Mike Leigh. He was recently seen as Benicio del Toro's preacher in '21 Grams', and has also appeared in 'The Rocket Post', 'Gangs of New York', and 'Gangster No. 1'. His television credits include 'Charles II' and 'Bodily Harm' with Timothy Spall. His stage work includes 'Antartica' in the West End, and Roger Michell's production of Harold Pinter's 'The Homecoming' at the National Theatre. RUTH SHEEN / Lily (black-marketeer and fixer) VERA DRAKE marks Ruth Sheen's fourth collaboration with Mike Leigh. In 1989, she was named European Actress of the Year as Shirley in 'High Hopes' (opposite VERA DRAKE co-star Phil Davis), and in 1993 she appeared at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in his play, 'It's A Great Big Shame!'. Most recently, she played Maureen in 'All or Nothing'. Other film work includes 'Virtual Sexuality', 'The Young Poisoner's Handbook', and 'Little Dorrit'. Between 'All or Nothing' and VERA DRAKE, Ruth Sheen filmed 'Cheeky' for David Thewlis and 'Vanity Fair' for director Mira Nair. On television she has been seen in numerous plays and series including 'Holding On' and 'Never Never', both written by Tony Marchant, 'Bramwell', 'Cracker' and 'Tom Jones'. She was last seen in the television adaptation of Zadie Smith's best-seller 'White Teeth'. HELEN COKER / WPC Best (who assists at the investigation) Helen Coker previously worked with Mike Leigh on 'All or Nothing', in which she appeared as the pregnant teenager Donna. A graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Helen Coker was seen in Terence Davies' 'The House of Mirth' and Doug McGrath's 'Nicholas Nickleby'. She can also be seen in Mira Nair's 'Vanity Fair'. Her most recent television credits include 'Cruise of the Gods' and 'Little Britain'. MARTIN SAVAGE / Detective Sergeant Vickers (who assists at the investigation) Martin Savage made his film debut as the drug-addicted actor George Grossmith in Mike Leigh's 'Topsy-Turvy'. He was also seen briefly as a taxi-passenger in 'All or Nothing'. His other film credits include 'The Tailor of Panama', and the upcoming `Piccadilly Jim' and 'Dirty War', in which he has one of the leading roles. He has appeared in numerous television series and stage productions, including the Royal Shakespeare Company's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in which he played Peter Quince. SINEAD MATTHEWS / Very young woman (Vera's first abortion client in the story) A 2003 RADA graduate, Sinead Matthews makes her film debut in VERA DRAKE. On stage, she appeared as Abigail in the Crucible Theatre Sheffield's recent production of Arthur Miller's `The Crucible', and her television credits include 'The Bingo Club' and 'He Knew He Was Right'. ALLAN CORDUNER / Psychiatrist Allan Corduner is best-known for his portrayal of Arthur Sullivan in Mike Leigh's 'Topsy-Turvy'. He has done extensive theatre work both in London's West End and on Broadway. Prior to shooting 'Topsy-Turvy', he had a leading role in the Tony award-winning Broadway musical 'Titanic'. Other stage work includes the London and New York productions of Caryl Churchill's seminal '80's play 'Serious Money'. Since 'Topsy-Turvy' Allan has appeared in several feature films including 'The Grey Zone', 'Moonlight Mile', 'Food of Love', 'Me Without You' and the upcoming 'De-Lovely'. Recent television includes 'Foyles War' and the mini-series 'The Way We Live Now' and 'Daniel Deronda'. LESLEY SHARP / Jessie Barnes (mother of the girl who becomes ill) One of Britain's best-known television actresses, Lesley Sharp previously worked with Mike Leigh on 'Naked'. On television she has starred in some of the most prominent contemporary drama series of recent years, including 'Playing The Field', 'Clocking Off' and 'Bob and Rose', as well as the single dramas 'Great Expectations', 'The Moonstone', 'The Second Coming' (recently BAFTA-nominated), 'Carrie's War' and 'Carla'. On stage, she has appeared in recent National Theatre productions of 'Mother Courage' and 'Uncle Vanya' as well as David Hare's 'Murmuring Judges'. At the Royal Court Theatre she was seen in the revival of Caryl Churchill's 'Top Girls', 'Our Country's Good' and 'The Recruiting Officer'. Lesley Sharp's film credits include 'The Full Monty' and 'From Hell', and, most recently, 'Cheeky'. JIM BROADBENT / Judge A regular collaborator with Mike Leigh, and one of the best-known faces in British acting, Jim Broadbent works with Mike Leigh for the sixth time on VERA DRAKE following the stage plays 'Goose-pimples' and 'Ecstasy', the films 'Life Is Sweet' and 'Topsy-Turvy', and the television short 'A Sense of History', which Jim wrote. Winner of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for 'Iris', Jim Broadbent has appeared in numerous films including 'Nicholas Nickleby', 'Moulin Rouge', 'The Borrowers', 'Richard III' and 'Bullets Over Broadway'. He was recently seen on stage at the National Theatre in 'The Pillowman' and previously in Sam Mendes' acclaimed production of Alan Bennett's 'Habeas Corpus'. FENELLA WOOLGAR / Susan's confidante Nominated for numerous awards for her scene-stealing role as Agatha Runcible in 'Bright Young Things', Fenella Woolgar will soon be seen in Richard Eyre's film 'Stage Beauty'. She has appeared in several television productions, including 'The Way We Live Now', and at various leading theatres throughout the UK. Official Web Site: http:// www.veradrakemovie.com Back to main movie page Showing Today at: Click here for other showings