Lesley Manville

Narrator

Lesley Manville CBE is one of Britain's most distinguished actresses, known for her long creative partnership with director Mike Leigh and for performances of exceptional depth across theatre, film, and television. Born in Brighton, she trained at the Italia Conti Academy. Manville's career includes landmark performances in Mike Leigh's... films All or Nothing, Another Year, and Mr. Turner. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Phantom Thread, playing the formidable Cyril opposite Daniel Day-Lewis. Her other film credits include Maleficent, Let Him Go, and Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. On television, Manville stars in the critically acclaimed series Mum, plays Princess Margaret in the final seasons of The Crown, and has appeared in Harlots and World on Fire. On stage, she has performed at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and in the West End, winning an Olivier Award. As an audiobook narrator, Manville brings the same qualities that make her screen performances so powerful — naturalism, emotional precision, and the ability to convey complex inner lives through apparently simple delivery. Her voice is warm and direct, with the capacity to break your heart without seeming to try. She was appointed CBE in 2021 for services to drama. For listeners who appreciate narration that prioritises truth over showmanship, Lesley Manville is a superb choice. Her performances have the quality of lived experience — she makes characters feel like real people rather than performances. Read more Show less