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Last updated on the 16 April 2024 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: 10 May 1977, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Anna Maxwell Martin was born to Rosalind and Ivan Martin. Her father held a prominent position in a pharmaceutical company, while her mother worked as a research scientist. Upon the birth of Anna and her older brother, Adam, her mother gave up her career to care for them. She attended Beverley High School, where she took part in school productions. Following her school years, Martin pursued a history degree at Liverpool University.
After completing her studies at Liverpool University, Martin decided to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). To distinguish herself from another individual with the same name, she adopted the name Maxwell, which was her maternal grandfather’s first name, when she joined Equity. In 2022, Martin appeared on an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, clarifying that Maxwell is her middle name and not part of her surname.
Some of Anna Maxwell Martin’s notable film and television highlights include her roles in popular series such as “Bleak House,” “Poppy Shakespeare,” “The Bletchley Circle,” and “Motherland.” Her portrayal of sophisticated and multi-dimensional characters has earned her numerous award nominations and accolades, solidifying her reputation as one of the industry’s leading talents.
WINNER | Television : Actress in for Bleak House (2006) | Television: Actress for Poppy Shakespeare (2009)
Suggested viewing
Bleak House (2005)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.3
“Bleak House” follows a complex narrative intertwining two different storylines: one revolving around a legal case known as Jarndyce and Jarndyce that drags on for years, and another focused on the orphaned Esther Summerson. The novel addresses themes of justice, social class and morality, set against the backdrop of Victorian England.
Top cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, Carey Mulligan, Denis Lawson, Gillian Anderson, Tom Georgeson, Charles Dance, Patrick Kennedy, Timothy West, Burn Gorman, Hugo Speer, Pauline Collins, Phil Davis, Nathaniel Parker, Alun Armstrong, Anne Reid.
More Dickens
The Bletchley Circle (2012)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.9
“The Bletchley Circle” is a crime drama series set in 1952–53. It follows four women who worked as codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II. Dissatisfied with the officials’ failure to investigate complex crimes, the women join forces to investigate for themselves. The series contrasts their conventional lives with the sense of usefulness they felt while codebreaking during the war.
Top cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham, Sophie Rundle, Nick Blood.
South Riding (2011)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2
South Riding is a drama series set during the Depression era in a fictional Yorkshire town. It follows Sarah Burton, a determined headmistress striving to improve the lives of her students and the community. As she contends with local politics and personal challenges, she works towards social change and self-discovery.
Top cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, David Morrissey, Penelope Wilton, Peter Firth, John Henshaw, Douglas Henshall, Katherine McGolpin, Lydia Wilson.
Similar to
Poppy Shakespeare (2008)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2
“Poppy Shakespeare” follows the story of two women in a mental institution, one a long-term patient and the other a new arrival. The new patient is convinced she doesn’t belong there and must challenge the system to prove her sanity. The film looks into themes of mental health, bureaucracy and friendship.
Top cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, Naomi Harris, Tessa Peake-Jones, Claire Benedict, Kolade Agboke, Adrian Scarborough, Cathy Murphy, Marie Critchley.
Motherland (2016)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 8.0
“Motherland” is a sitcom set in London, which explores the trials of middle-class motherhood. When her mother abruptly decides to stop taking care of her children, working mother Julia Johnstone is forced to take a much more active role in their lives and education. She becomes friends with working-class Liz and stay-at-home dad Kevin Brady and finds herself interacting with the local mother group, including their shallow and acerbic leader, Amanda.
Top cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, Lucy Punch, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready, Philippa Dunne, Ellie Haddington, Tanya Moodie, Oliver Chris, Jackie Clune, David Calder, Penny Ryder.
Full filmography (@Wikipedia)
Anna Maxwell Martin Gallery
![Motherland | Official Trailer [HD] | A Sundance Now Exclusive Comedy Series](https://britishftv.co.uk/wp-content/cache/flying-press/3XDQe8Kv0SI-hqdefault.jpg)
