When you think of Sarah Lancashire’s best performances, what comes to mind? Happy Valley? Rose and Maloney? How about An Ordinary Woman? While most people might not have even heard of the latter, the superb drama about the troubling relationship between a mother and son is, in our view, Sarah’s best performance yet – and one that will almost definitely leave you in awe of her.
The drama is part of the BBC’s revamped Talking Heads series from the unsurpassable Alan Bennett and the theme is, well, something of a taboo. Sarah plays mother Gwen Fedder who develops incestuous feelings towards her son and it’s likely to be one of the most affecting things you’ve watched in a long time.
Intrigued? Before you tune in, here’s everything you need to know about An Ordinary Woman, including the cast, plot and how to watch it tonight.
What is An Ordinary Woman about?
As we mentioned, the drama forms part of the BBC’s revived Talked Heads series; the collection of dramatic monologues by Alan Bennett were originally broadcast on the BBC in 1988, but in 2020, the BBC released a new series, which included remakes of 10 of the original monologues and 2 entirely new episodes. The new cast featured the likes of Jodie Comer, Lesley Manville and Martin Freeman (pictured above).
In Sarah Lancashire’s (picture below in Last Tango in Halifax) episode, An Ordinary Woman, which is one of the new stories, she plays troubled mother Gwen Fedder. Gwen has a 15-year-old son, Michael, who she’s very close with – extremely close, in fact – and it soon becomes apparent that their relationship goes beyond what is normal for a mother and child.
What unfolds is something most TV dramas avoid: Gwen and her son’s relationship is indeed inappropriate, as she confesses to having incestuous feelings towards him. While Michael believes his mum might be having an affair or something similar – due to her new hair and make-up – the truth is far deeper and darker.
Sarah Lancashire told the Radio Times of her role: “To be asked to perform a new Talking Head was beyond any expectation. The matchless brilliance of Alan Bennett’s words coupled with the extraordinary wisdom of Nick Hytner’s direction made this a thrilling and quite simply unforgettable experience, and I’m enormously grateful. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“An Ordinary Woman is the beautiful and achingly poignant portrait of Gwen, a complex and troubled woman in her middle years.”
Who’s in the cast of An Ordinary Woman?
Sarah Lancashire is the only cast member in An Ordinary Woman, with the Happy Valley star performing a single monologue as Gwen Fedder, which makes up the entirety of the episode. There are, however, nine more episodes in the series starring the likes of Kristin Scott-Thomas, Jodie Comer (pictured above) and Maxine Peake.
Is An Ordinary Woman any good?
Yes – Sarah Lancashire gives an absolutely superb performance in a role that would be immensely challenging for an actor. While her feelings naturally warrant disgust, she’s entirely believable throughout and you can’t help but feel a degree of sympathy for her. While the subject matter can, at times, make for uncomfortable viewing, it’s absolutely worth it to see Sarah at her absolute finest.
How can I watch An Ordinary Woman?
You can watch Sarah’s episode of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, An Ordinary Woman, now on Apple TV and Prime Video.
What other Sarah Lancashire dramas can I watch now?
For one of Sarah’s best-loved performances, we’d recommend Last Tango in Halifax. Created by the brilliant Sally Wainwright, the BAFTA-winning drama tells the story of two 70-somethings, Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid), who reunite in later life, with Alan’s daughter Gillian (Nicola Walker) and Celia’s daughter Caroline (Sarah) bringing complications of their own. You can watch Last Tango in Halifax now on BBC iPlayer. If you love a detective drama, we’d suggest Rose and Maloney. Sarah plays one half of the titular detective duo who take on claims of miscarriages of justice and her performance as a hard-drinking, rule-breaking investigator is not to be missed. Rose and Maloney is available to watch on Prime Video.
