Maxine Peake on Playing Real-Life Figures, Social Commentary, and the Power of Television

Strategic Insights -

Maxine Peake, a renowned actress, has made a name for herself by playing striking roles that tackle complex social issues. In her latest film, Words of War, she portrays Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian journalist who was murdered in 2006. Peake's performance earned her a Bafta nomination earlier this year. In a recent interview, Peake opens up about her research, the challenges of playing real-life figures, and the importance of using her platform to speak out against injustice.

Key Takeaways:

  • Peake's research for Words of War involved reading Anna Politkovskaya's Russian diaries, which revealed a multifaceted personality beyond her public image, showing her as a wife, mother, and determined journalist.
  • Peake has a history of playing real-life figures, including Dolours Price in the series Say Nothing, for which she earned a Bafta nomination.
  • She believes that acting is political and that stories about the oppressed against the oppressor are always attractive to her, as they allow her to explore humanity, survival, and justice.
  • Peake notes that her efforts to find sponsorship for drama school were the subject of a documentary for The South Bank Show when she was 21, and she fears that it's harder than ever for people without means to get into the arts due to rising living costs.
  • She questions the misconception that actors earn average wages, pointing out that many earn huge sums, but the industry doesn't trickle down to support emerging talent.

Statistics:

  • Last year was the worst year in history for deaths of journalists, with the majority being murders in Gaza (source: UN).
  • Peake's film Words of War was announced a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine.
  • The average cost of renting a room in London is now £1,200 (PS1,200) per month (source: BBC).

Sources:

  • The South Bank Show (documentary featuring Maxine Peake's efforts to find sponsorship for drama school)
  • BBC (source for average cost of renting a room in London)
  • UN (source for statistics on deaths of journalists)