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Helen McCrory

Actress, Mum and Philanthropist

Hugh Laurie classes up political scandal in David Hare’s new drama, but maybe we’re too scarred to be thrilled

On November 1, 2020May 20, 2021 By helenistic No Comments

Corrupt politics, greedy public officials failing upward – it’s all so tiresome and depressing, isn’t it?

by Melanie McFarland | November 1, 2020 | Salon.com

Corrupt politics, greedy public officials failing upward – it’s all so tiresome and depressing, isn’t it?But damn if it doesn’t go down more smoothly in a British accent. Usually, I should say.

“Roadkill,” the latest “Masterpiece” limited series from Oscar-nominated screenwriter and playwright David Hare, tests that theory with prismatic tag-along through the a rocky chapter in British government minister Peter Laurence’s career. Played with a rakish confidence by Hugh Laurie, we’re introduced to Peter as he’s walking out of court, victorious in libel case alleging that he lied about an attempt to use his office for financial gain.

Continue reading Hugh Laurie classes up political scandal in David Hare’s new drama, but maybe we’re too scarred to be thrilled

Print Media Reviews Roadkill

Roadkill: Hugh Laurie Plays a Politician Trying to Avoid Cancellation

On October 30, 2020May 20, 2021 By helenistic No Comments

A brash British populist dealing with a law suit, a love child, a mistress, and a suspicious PM

by Mike Hale | October 30, 2020 | New York Times

Credit…PBS, via Associated Press

Need to lend some charm, suavity and wry humanity to an otherwise objectionable middle-aged British male? Hugh Laurie is your man, filling that neo-George Sanders role in characters both mildly vainglorious (the spaceship captain of “Avenue 5”) and utterly despicable (the arms dealer of “The Night Manager”).

His latest, in the BBC mini-series “Roadkill” (beginning Sunday on PBS’s “Masterpiece”), falls somewhere in between, and trying to guess exactly where is our primary sport across the show’s four episodes. Peter Laurence may be a well-meaning, if destructively narcissistic, politician with a libertarian bent; he may be a soulless monster who doesn’t care about the bodies he leaves behind, perhaps literally, as he claws his way up the government. Laurie’s guarded, superbly understated performance keeps alive to the last moment the possibility that either, or both, might be true.

Continue reading Roadkill: Hugh Laurie Plays a Politician Trying to Avoid Cancellation

Print Media Reviews Roadkill

Roadkill reviews: Critics heap praise on Hugh Laurie’s performance

On October 19, 2020May 20, 2021 By helenistic No Comments

Critics have given ‘Roadkill’ a mostly warm reception

by BBC Staff | October 19, 2020 | BBC News

Hugh Laurie as Laurence Peter — The Telegraph said Hugh Laurie was “charismatic” as fictional MP Peter Laurence

The four-parter, directed by Line of Duty’s Michael Keillor, stars Laurie as a controversial Conservative minister.

The cast also includes Us actors Saskia Reeves and Iain De Caestecker alongside Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory.

Critics lauded the performances in the BBC drama but had some caveats, such as the “dodgy dialogue”.

Several newspaper critics bestowed four stars out of five on the first episode, which sees Laurie’s character Peter Laurence battling to stop both his public and private life falling apart against a backdrop of political plotting and intrigue.

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Interviews Print Media Roadkill

BBC Media Centre: Interview with Helen McCrory

On October 7, 2020May 16, 2021 By Gingersnap4Helen No Comments

Helen McCrory Plays Dawn Ellison in Roadkill

by Staff | BBC Media Centre | October 7, 2020

Dawn’s problem with Peter is that she doesn’t recognise him, and because she doesn’t recognise him, she doesn’t realise how dangerous he is.

— Helen McCrory

What attracted you to the role?
I knew David Hare’s work very well. When I came out of drama school and first worked at The National Theatre I saw Racing Demon and Murmuring Judges, he was doing a triple bill there at the time. I’ve seen his work but I’d never seen him write about right-wing politics and I think that has brought another edge to his work, which is so blunt, brutal, funny and scathing. It has a sharpness that I really enjoyed when I read it. All the characters are pretty venal, but they’re quick and they’re bright and they’re ambitious. They’re also honest and I think that that is a very interesting story to watch.

Continue reading BBC Media Centre: Interview with Helen McCrory

Roadkill Trailer Video

VIDEO: Roadkill Official Trailer

On October 3, 2020May 20, 2021 By helenistic No Comments

A first look at the BBC’s new political trailer

BBC One has released a first look image of Hugh Laurie (The Night Manager, House) in Roadkill, a major new political thriller created by David Hare. Peter Laurence (Hugh Laurie) is a self-made, forceful and charismatic politician. Peter’s public and private life seems to be falling apart – or rather is being picked apart by his enemies. As the personal revelations spiral, he is shamelessly untroubled by guilt or remorse, expertly walking a high wire between glory and catastrophe as he seeks to further his own agenda whilst others plot to bring him down. However events show just how hard it is, for both an individual and a country, to leave the past behind. With enemies so close to home, can Peter Laurence ever out-run his own secrets to win the ultimate prize?

by BBC | You Tube | October 3, 2020