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Last updated on the 14 August 2024 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: 7 November 1950, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Lindsay Duncan came from a working-class family, her father served in the British army for 21 years before becoming a civil servant. The family moved to Leeds and then Birmingham during her childhood. Tragically, her father died in a car accident when she was 15 years old. Despite these challenges, Duncan’s early life was marked by a strong sense of determination and resilience.
Lindsay Duncan’s education played a crucial role in shaping her career. She attended King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham on a scholarship. Her passion for acting was ignited through school productions and she became friends with future playwright Kevin Elyot, who influenced her decision to pursue drama. Duncan later trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
She began her professional journey in theatre, performing in various productions at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Her stage career flourished, earning her critical acclaim and numerous awards, including two Olivier Awards and a Tony Award. Duncan’s notable stage performances include roles in Harold Pinter’s plays and her award-winning portrayal in “Private Lives”.
She has appeared in a wide range of films, including “Prick Up Your Ears” (1987), “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999), “Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003), “Alice in Wonderland” (2010), and “Birdman” (2014). Her television credits include memorable roles in “Rome” (2005-2007), “Doctor Who” (2009), “The Honourable Woman” (2014) and “Sherlock” (2014-2017).
On a personal front, Lindsay Duncan is married to fellow actor Hilton McRae, whom she met in 1985 at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The couple have one son, Cal McRae, born in 1991. Duncan’s personal life has been marked by both joy and sorrow. Her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, passed away in 1994, inspiring the play “The Winter Guest” by Sharman Macdonald.
Suggested viewing
Truelove (2024)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.2
In this dark comedy drama, a group of old friends, reunited at a funeral, make a shocking pact born from a drunken conversation: to help each other end their lives with dignity if they face a painful decline. What begins as a seemingly impossible idea quickly morphs into a chilling reality, testing their bonds of friendship and challenging the very notion of assisted death.
Top cast: Lindsay Duncan, Clarke Peters, Peter Egan, Fiona Button, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Sandra James-Young, Isabelle Pratt, Phil Davis, Sue Johnston, Karl Johnson.
Rome (2005)
Bftv 9.5 / IMDb 8.7
Rome is a gritty historical drama chronicling the decline of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Empire. Interweaving the lives of both aristocratic power players and ordinary soldiers, the series offers a raw and visceral portrayal of ambition, betrayal and the brutal realities of power struggles amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and societal upheaval.
Top cast: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, James Purefoy, Lindsay Duncan, Tobias Menzies, Kerry Condon, Simon Woods.
Simon Says (2021)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.6
A television writer becomes trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with an obsessive fan who holds damning evidence against him. The fan demands the writer rewrite a controversial series finale to satisfy his own vision, leading to a sinister power struggle filled with blackmail, manipulation and shocking violence.
Inside No. 9, S6.E2
Top cast: Lindsay Duncan, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Nick Mohammed.
A Year in Provence (1993)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.6
A British couple trades the hustle of city life for a sun-drenched Provençal farmhouse, naively expecting an idyllic escape. Reality swiftly intervenes with harsh winter winds, unreliable tradesmen and the complexities of rural French life. Amidst these challenges, they savour exquisite cuisine, encounter eccentric locals and gradually find a rhythm in their new, often humorous, adventure.
Top cast: John Thaw, Lindsay Duncan, Jean-Pierre DeLarge, Harry HallJo Doumerg, Alfred MolinaJim Carter, James Fleet, Frank Middlemass.
CLIP