Lesley Manville has brought us so many brilliant dramas we’ve lost count - from Mum to Sherwood and The Crown - but not all of them have quite got the attention they deserve. Channel 4’s I Am Maria one such drama, which stars Lesley as a 60-something woman who feels suffocated by her marriage. It’s the sort of drama that, despite at times being somewhat uncomfortable viewing, it’s impossible to look away from - and if you missed the chance to watch it when it first aired in 2021, you can, and should, catch up tonight.
You may already be familiar with Dominic Savage’s I Am anthology series, which revolves largely around issues that affect women women and tackles themes such as mental health, relationships, love (or lack of it) and desire. Lesley’s episode deals specifically with the cracks that can appear in a long-term marriage and her performance is nothing short of exceptional.
With the drama now available to stream, here’s everything you need to know about I Am Maria, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is I Am Maria about?
The drama, which first aired on Channel 4 in 2021, is part of Dominic Savage’s critically acclaimed anthology series, which features standalone episodes covering the stories of different women and their perspective on life. In I Am Maria, Lesley Manville plays 60-year-old Maria who’s at a crossroads in her life.
Maria is married to John (Michael Gould) and has been for many years, but feigning happiness in her relationship has become suffocating. Her 60th birthday is a sort of turning point that opens her eyes to the feelings she’s been suppressing. If only, she feels, she had the chance to find happiness again – to go out dancing, to have sex and have fun.
In an interview will The Standard, Lesley shared an insight into her character’s dilemma, explaining: “Dominic and I decided that we didn’t want to make it an obvious divorce. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Maria’s husband, which almost makes ending the relationship harder, there’s nothing tangible.
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“I can imagine if you devoted the best part of 30 years of your life to one person, bringing up children, when those children grow up you may feel stuck, however comfortable your life is. You can’t really complain but at the same time…
“I absolutely understand Maria’s state of mind. She is thinking come on, if I’m lucky I’ve got another 30 years of life. She wants an adventure. I get that entirely.”
Who’s in the cast of I Am Maria?
The cast of I Am Maria includes:
- Lesley Manville (Let Him Go)
- Michael Gould (The Darkest Hour)
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (I May Destroy You)
- Daryl McCormack (Pixie)
- Ziggy Heath (Harlots)
- Ellie James (I May Destroy You)
Is there a trailer for I Am Maria?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for I Am Maria below.
Is I Am Maria any good?
Yes – it’s a drama many women (and men!) will relate to. It’s thought-provoking and, sometimes, makes for uneasy viewing as it portrays the cracks that can appear in a long-term marriage with such accuracy. Needless to say, Lesley Manville is outstanding in it, too!
How can I watch I Am Maria?
I Am Maria is available to watch now on Channel 4.
What other Lesley Manville dramas can I watch now?
If you haven’t yet seen Lesley’s performance in Let Him Go, we’d highly recommend watching it. Lesley plays Blanche Weboy, a villainous matriarch who’s determined to keep her daughter-in-law and grandson in her family’s abusive control. You can watch Let Him Go now on Netflix. For an even creepier series, we’d suggest Monster: The Ed Gein Story. The series tells the story of one of America’s most depraved killers and sadly, Lesley’s character meets an unfortunate fate. You can watch Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix. To find out what else Lesley has coming up, check out our sneak preview here.
