Vicky McClure
Encyclopedia
Vicky McClure is a BAFTA-winning English actress best known for her work in the films of Shane Meadows
. She played the title character's sister Ladine in A Room for Romeo Brass
(1999), and featured in Meadows's most successful film to date, This Is England
(2006). She was born in Nottingham
.
In an April 2007 interview with Time Out, McClure spoke of Meadows approaching her for the role while she was in a pub with Andrew Shim
. She described the making of the film as "constant laughing and jokes" and said, "We've been majorly involved, which has been fantastic. Even down to things like coming down to see Shane while he was doing the grades and the edit — we've watched so many different versions of the film!"
Much of the film was improvised — "Well, it's all improvised. When we're all having a laugh and pissing about, Shane will be like, 'Right just make each other laugh' and somebody will come out with some bizarre comment to start a conversation and we're all naturally laughing because it's funny. A lot of the time it just worked for a first take."
On how working with Meadows may compare with other directors, McClure said, "I haven't got loads of experience in terms of working with other directors and I've not got bags of films behind me, but I've got a funny feeling that if I continue to work with other people then I'm not going to get this luxury again."
On similarity with her characters, McClure drew parallels: "I think Ladine (her character in A Room for Romeo Brass
) and Lol are quite similar in the fact that they don't take any shit, and I don't to a certain extent. All three of us are similar in so many different ways… I think they're both quite similar and I think Shane probably sees some of that in me, which obviously helps with the characters. But I'm ever so nice really!"
She co-starred in the London-based comedy film Filth and Wisdom
, the first feature film directed by pop singer Madonna
. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival
on 13 February 2008. She admitted to being slightly star-struck upon first meeting Madonna in an interview with LeftLion
where she said "I tried to act as cool as possible but inside I'm like, “Oh my God; there's Madonna!” You can't help it."
She was also featured alongside Kaya Scodelario, Abbey M Butler, Andy Crane
and Paul Young
in Plan B's music video "She Said
".
Vicky reprised the role of Lol for the spin-off TV series This is England '86
commissioned by Channel 4
. The series focused upon Lol's character, along with a supporting cast featuring much of the original gang. The events of the series are said to change her character forever and Shane Meadows has said on his official site that it includes some of the most challenging scenes of his career. In 2010, Vicky appeared in a number of promotional short films for the English cosmetics brand Illamasqua.
Vicky won the Best Female Actor RTS Award (Royal Television Society
) in 2011 for her role as Lol in This is England '86
, and also won the BAFTA for Best Leading Actress in May 2011.
Shane Meadows
Shane Meadows is an English film director, screenwriter, occasional actor and BAFTA winner.-Background:Meadows grew up in the Westlands Road area of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. His father was a long distance lorry driver and his mother worked in a fish and chip shop...
. She played the title character's sister Ladine in A Room for Romeo Brass
A Room for Romeo Brass
A Room for Romeo Brass is a 1999 comedy drama film directed and written by Shane Meadows. It was co-written by frequent Meadows collaborator Paul Fraser....
(1999), and featured in Meadows's most successful film to date, This Is England
This Is England
-Track listing:#"54-46 Was My Number" - Toots & The Maytals#"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners#"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell#"Underpass/Flares" - Movie Dialogue From This Is England#"Nicole " - Gravenhurst...
(2006). She was born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
In an April 2007 interview with Time Out, McClure spoke of Meadows approaching her for the role while she was in a pub with Andrew Shim
Andrew Shim
Andrew Shim is a British actor best known for his appearances in the films of Shane Meadows, especially This Is England.-Early life:...
. She described the making of the film as "constant laughing and jokes" and said, "We've been majorly involved, which has been fantastic. Even down to things like coming down to see Shane while he was doing the grades and the edit — we've watched so many different versions of the film!"
Much of the film was improvised — "Well, it's all improvised. When we're all having a laugh and pissing about, Shane will be like, 'Right just make each other laugh' and somebody will come out with some bizarre comment to start a conversation and we're all naturally laughing because it's funny. A lot of the time it just worked for a first take."
On how working with Meadows may compare with other directors, McClure said, "I haven't got loads of experience in terms of working with other directors and I've not got bags of films behind me, but I've got a funny feeling that if I continue to work with other people then I'm not going to get this luxury again."
On similarity with her characters, McClure drew parallels: "I think Ladine (her character in A Room for Romeo Brass
A Room for Romeo Brass
A Room for Romeo Brass is a 1999 comedy drama film directed and written by Shane Meadows. It was co-written by frequent Meadows collaborator Paul Fraser....
) and Lol are quite similar in the fact that they don't take any shit, and I don't to a certain extent. All three of us are similar in so many different ways… I think they're both quite similar and I think Shane probably sees some of that in me, which obviously helps with the characters. But I'm ever so nice really!"
She co-starred in the London-based comedy film Filth and Wisdom
Filth and Wisdom
Filth and Wisdom is the first film directed by Madonna, starring Eugene Hütz, Holly Weston, Vicky McClure and Richard E. Grant. It was filmed on location in London, England from May 14 to May 29, 2007 with additional scenes shot in July 2007....
, the first feature film directed by pop singer Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
on 13 February 2008. She admitted to being slightly star-struck upon first meeting Madonna in an interview with LeftLion
LeftLion
LeftLion is a printed and online culture and listings magazine which covers Nottingham, with a specific focus on the local music and arts scene. It was originally set up by Alan Gilby, Tim Bates and Jared Wilson and the website was launched on 1 September 2003. The first issue of the Magazine came...
where she said "I tried to act as cool as possible but inside I'm like, “Oh my God; there's Madonna!” You can't help it."
She was also featured alongside Kaya Scodelario, Abbey M Butler, Andy Crane
Andy Crane
Howard Andrew 'Andy' Crane is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting Children's BBC , amongst many others.-Career:...
and Paul Young
Paul Young
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
in Plan B's music video "She Said
She Said (Plan B song)
"She Said" is the second single from English rapper Plan B's second album The Defamation of Strickland Banks - a concept album whose songs tell the fictitious tale of a sharp-suited English soul singer who finds fame with bitter-sweet love songs, but then loses everything when he ends up in prison...
".
Vicky reprised the role of Lol for the spin-off TV series This is England '86
This Is England '86
This Is England '86 is a 2010 British drama series written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne. A spin-off from the 2006 film This Is England, and set three years later, it focuses on the mod revival scene rather than the skinhead subculture...
commissioned by Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. The series focused upon Lol's character, along with a supporting cast featuring much of the original gang. The events of the series are said to change her character forever and Shane Meadows has said on his official site that it includes some of the most challenging scenes of his career. In 2010, Vicky appeared in a number of promotional short films for the English cosmetics brand Illamasqua.
Vicky won the Best Female Actor RTS Award (Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
) in 2011 for her role as Lol in This is England '86
This Is England '86
This Is England '86 is a 2010 British drama series written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne. A spin-off from the 2006 film This Is England, and set three years later, it focuses on the mod revival scene rather than the skinhead subculture...
, and also won the BAFTA for Best Leading Actress in May 2011.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | A Room for Romeo Brass A Room for Romeo Brass A Room for Romeo Brass is a 1999 comedy drama film directed and written by Shane Meadows. It was co-written by frequent Meadows collaborator Paul Fraser.... |
Ladine Brass | |
| 2000 | Doctors | Kirsty Dunns | TV series (1 episode: "Love Me Tender") |
| 2002 | Tough Love | Zoe Love | TV movie |
| 2004 | Birth Day | Lucia | short |
| 2005 | The Stairwell | Woman | short |
| 2006 | This is England This Is England -Track listing:#"54-46 Was My Number" - Toots & The Maytals#"Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners#"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell#"Underpass/Flares" - Movie Dialogue From This Is England#"Nicole " - Gravenhurst... |
Lol | |
| 2008 | Filth and Wisdom Filth and Wisdom Filth and Wisdom is the first film directed by Madonna, starring Eugene Hütz, Holly Weston, Vicky McClure and Richard E. Grant. It was filmed on location in London, England from May 14 to May 29, 2007 with additional scenes shot in July 2007.... |
Juliette | |
| 2009 | Enough Rope | Iris | video short |
| Cast Offs Cast Offs Cast Offs is a BAFTA nominated dramedy mockumentary that follows a group of six disabled people sent to a remote British Island for a fictional reality show.The series is made up of six episodes, with each episode concentrating on one of the six characters... |
Claire | TV series (1 episode: "Carrie") | |
| 2010 | Five Daughters Five Daughters Five Daughters is a British television drama mini-series starring Ian Hart, Sarah Lancashire, Jaime Winstone and Juliet Aubrey. Set in 2006, it is about the five victims of the Ipswich serial murders and how the crime affected their families... |
Stacy Nicholls | TV series (3 episodes) |
| Just Before Dawn | Fay | short | |
| This is England '86 This Is England '86 This Is England '86 is a 2010 British drama series written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne. A spin-off from the 2006 film This Is England, and set three years later, it focuses on the mod revival scene rather than the skinhead subculture... |
Lol | BAFTA Award for Best Actress British Academy Television Award for Best Actress - 1950s :*1955 Googie Withers*1956 Virginia McKenna*1957 Rosalie Crutchley*1958 Gwen Watford*1959 Catherine Lacey- 1960s :*1960 Catherine Lacey*1961 Billie Whitelaw*1962 Ruth Dunning*1963 Brenda Bruce*1964 Vivien Merchant*1965 Katherine Blake... RTS Television Award for Best Actress TV Choice Award for Best Actress |
|
| 2011 | Walk Like a Panther | TV series | |
| Stolen | DC Manda Healey | TV movie | |
| Coming Up | Kelly | TV series (1 episode: "Rough Skin") | |