Movies by Maxine Peake

Maxine Peake is a rising talent in British cinema, known for her bold, incisive storytelling and her ability to craft complex, layered characters. While best known as an acclaimed television and stage actress, Peake has in recent years turned her hand to directing, and her work behind the camera has proven just as compelling as her performances. Peake's directorial debut, 2018's The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca, demonstrated her keen eye for historical drama and her skill at bringing forgotten voices to the screen. The film movingly recounts the story of Lillian Bilocca, a Hull fishwife who led a crusade to improve safety standards in the dangerous North Sea fishing industry following a devastating trawler disaster. Peake's sensitive, unsentimental approach allows Bilocca's steely determination and sense of injustice to shine through, making for a powerful, resonant portrait of working-class activism. Peake's most recent film, 2022's Incompatible, further cements her reputation as a director unafraid to tackle thorny social issues. A gritty kitchen-sink drama set in contemporary Manchester, the film delves into themes of class, gender, and the compromises necessary for survival, with Peake drawing layered, compelling performances from her ensemble cast. Whether exploring the past or the present, Maxine Peake's work as a director consistently offers a refreshing, unflinching perspective, marking her as a vital new voice in British cinema.