Latest news with #SallyWainwright
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sarah Lancashire says Happy Valley performance 'born of fear'
Bafta-winning actress Sarah Lancashire has said her award-winning performance in gritty TV drama Happy Valley was "born out of fear".Lancashire, 60, who rose to fame as barmaid Raquel Wolstenhulme in Coronation Street, won two leading actress Baftas for playing no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC decades-long "brilliant and intangible" working relationship with writer Sally Wainwright influenced her role, but she said fear was key to her the role at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, after being formally made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Lancashire said: "That was just born out of fear, abject fear, of feeling quite off-piste. "Literally it was a leap of faith, jumping off the cliff at midnight in the dark."But knowing that somebody has the confidence in you and the belief in you - Wainwright is deeply persuasive as an individual, which I absolutely, really admire, I'm very grateful, always."Lancashire starred in Coronation Street from 1991 until 1996, appearing in more than 260 and Wainwright first met when they were "cutting their teeth" on the soap pair later collaborated on the BBC comedy-drama Last Tango In Halifax, for which Lancashire won her first Bafta in 2014 for her supporting worked together again on Happy Valley, which ran from 2014 to what made playing Sgt Cawood so terrifying, Lancashire said: "The setting of it, being asked to play something which I had no knowledge of at all - absolutely no knowledge."And knowing that the level of research that was available to me was going to be quite limited in the time available."But in actual fact - as Wainwright always said - it wasn't a procedural drama, it was not a police drama, it was a family." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Happy Valley role born out of fear, Sarah Lancashire says
Bafta-winning actress Sarah Lancashire has said her star role in Happy Valley was 'born out of fear'. Lancashire, 60, won two leading actress Baftas for playing no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC drama set in Hebden Bridge. Her decades-long 'brilliant and intangible' working relationship with writer Sally Wainwright influenced her role, but fear was key to her performance. Discussing the role at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, after being formally made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Lancashire told the PA news agency: 'That was just born out of fear, abject fear, of feeling quite off-piste. 'Literally it was a leap of faith, jumping off the cliff at midnight in the dark. 'But knowing that somebody has the confidence in you and the belief in you – she (Wainwright) is deeply persuasive as an individual, which I absolutely, really admire, I'm very grateful, always.' Lancashire's breakout role came as fan-favourite barmaid Raquel Watts in Coronation Street, which she played for five years until 1996, appearing in more than 260 episodes. She and Wainwright first met when they were 'cutting their teeth' on the soap opera. The duo later collaborated on the BBC drama Last Tango In Halifax, for which Lancashire won her first Bafta in 2014 for her supporting role. They worked together again on Happy Valley, which ran from 2014 to 2023. Asked what spurred the terror of playing Sergeant Cawood, Lancashire told PA: 'The setting of it, being asked to play something which I had no knowledge of at all – absolutely no knowledge. 'And knowing that the level of research that was available to me was going to be quite limited in the time available. 'But in actual fact – as she (Wainwright) always said – it wasn't a procedural drama, it was not a police drama, it… was a family.' She spoke about performing during a conversation with the Princess Royal at the ceremony at the Berkshire royal residence. Anne told her that she had briefly acted while at boarding school, Lancashire said. The actress told PA: 'We were really talking about performance, and how she'd done a little bit of this when she was at boarding school. 'I think they all had to go onto a stage at some point and it can stand you in very good stead for future roles in life, no matter where it takes you.' Being a professional actor 'is sort of clinging on for dear life', she said. 'It never changes. Very often as an actor you're swimming against the tide whilst standing on shifting sand. 'You feel that you may have some sort of trajectory but then the industry changes, because the industry is ever-evolving – every 10 years, you'll find yourself in an industry which is slightly different, requiring something different from you. 'So you're never secure, there's never a moment where you can be complacent, at all. 'It's sort of a clinging on for dear life, you just hope that you can stay with it.' Her relationship with Wainwright was pivotal in fighting that tide. She said: 'Having known her (Wainwright) for a very long time, decades, and just meeting someone whose voice you admire so much. 'Who knows why… there's an alchemy, that just works. It's a wonderful thing when you find it, not that I was looking for it, but it just happens – that's a tremendous thing.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Happy Valley role born out of fear, Sarah Lancashire says
Bafta-winning actress Sarah Lancashire has said her star role in Happy Valley was 'born out of fear'. Lancashire, 60, won two leading actress Baftas for playing no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC drama set in Hebden Bridge. Her decades-long 'brilliant and intangible' working relationship with writer Sally Wainwright influenced her role, but fear was key to her performance. Lancashire was honoured by the Princess Royal (Jonathan Brady/PA) Discussing the role at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, after being formally made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Lancashire told the PA news agency: 'That was just born out of fear, abject fear, of feeling quite off-piste. ADVERTISEMENT 'Literally it was a leap of faith, jumping off the cliff at midnight in the dark. 'But knowing that somebody has the confidence in you and the belief in you – she (Wainwright) is deeply persuasive as an individual, which I absolutely, really admire, I'm very grateful, always.' Lancashire's breakout role came as fan-favourite barmaid Raquel Watts in Coronation Street, which she played for five years until 1996, appearing in more than 260 episodes. She and Wainwright first met when they were 'cutting their teeth' on the soap opera. The duo later collaborated on the BBC drama Last Tango In Halifax, for which Lancashire won her first Bafta in 2014 for her supporting role. They worked together again on Happy Valley, which ran from 2014 to 2023. Asked what spurred the terror of playing Sergeant Cawood, Lancashire told PA: 'The setting of it, being asked to play something which I had no knowledge of at all – absolutely no knowledge. ADVERTISEMENT 'And knowing that the level of research that was available to me was going to be quite limited in the time available. 'But in actual fact – as she (Wainwright) always said – it wasn't a procedural drama, it was not a police drama, it… was a family.' She spoke about performing during a conversation with the Princess Royal at the ceremony at the Berkshire royal residence. Anne told her that she had briefly acted while at boarding school, Lancashire said. The actress told PA: 'We were really talking about performance, and how she'd done a little bit of this when she was at boarding school. 'I think they all had to go onto a stage at some point and it can stand you in very good stead for future roles in life, no matter where it takes you.' Being a professional actor 'is sort of clinging on for dear life', she said. ADVERTISEMENT 'It never changes. Very often as an actor you're swimming against the tide whilst standing on shifting sand. 'You feel that you may have some sort of trajectory but then the industry changes, because the industry is ever-evolving – every 10 years, you'll find yourself in an industry which is slightly different, requiring something different from you. 'So you're never secure, there's never a moment where you can be complacent, at all. 'It's sort of a clinging on for dear life, you just hope that you can stay with it.' Her relationship with Wainwright was pivotal in fighting that tide. She said: 'Having known her (Wainwright) for a very long time, decades, and just meeting someone whose voice you admire so much. 'Who knows why… there's an alchemy, that just works. It's a wonderful thing when you find it, not that I was looking for it, but it just happens – that's a tremendous thing.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Federation Studios Strikes Deal With Taiwan's Content Agency
Federation Studios has struck a deal with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). Unveiled at Series Mania, the partnership will 'offer a fast track for creators, producers, investors, and distributors from both sides to ensure market access in Asia and Europe,' according to the pair. More from Deadline Sally Wainwright Reveals How Her Band Of 'Riot Women' Learned To Play A Tune - Series Mania Gwyneth Paltrow's "Irresponsible" Intimacy Coordinator Remarks Criticized By North Road's Caroline Hollick - Series Mania BBC, ZDF Team On Darkly Comic Berlin-Set Spy Series 'Honey' From 'Killing Eve' Producer The 'strategic alliance' will see new projects and more networking between the two continents. It comes following renewed co-operation between European and Asian players of late. The agreement was signed by Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios and TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai, while it was witnessed by Jérémie Kessler, European and International Affairs director from CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée) and Laurence Herszberg, General Director of Séries Mania. During a signing ceremony, Breton said: 'This agreement is a fantastic opportunity for Federation to develop films and series shot and co-produced in Taiwan, and to reinforce our distribution base for our European catalogue in the Asian territories. The exceptional expertise of Taiwanese professionals in technological innovation, as well as their creativity in the audiovisual industries, will be a major asset and we aim at combining and optimizing them with Federation's talents and know-how.' TAICCA chairperson Homme Tsai added that through this cooperative partnership with Federation Studios, Taiwan will be able to optimize the exchange of resources with Europe, while boosting the development potential of cultural and creative industries in the global market. The Bureau super-indie Federation is currently seeking hundreds of millions via a cash injection and was recently in L.A. courting buyers. Established six years back, the TAICCA facilitates the development of Taiwan's content industries including film and TV. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery How To Watch 'Wicked: Part One': Is The Film Streaming Yet? All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald
