A thoroughly modern woman. Maxine Peake stars in a profoundly moving drama based on the real diaries of Anne Lister: a landowning woman who defied the conventions of her 19th century life to great scandal...for Anne was a lesbian. Her affair with 'soul mate' Marianna Belcombe keeps society guessing but when it is announced that Marianna is to be married to the older corpulent and wealthy Charles Lawton Anne is distraught. Set in the small elite world of high society The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister is an inspiring story of 'the first modern lesbian' - a woman... who challenged convention and was determined to simply be herself. [show more]
Maxine Peake was unfairly overlooked, in my opinion, by BAFTA in their TV nominations for her performance in Criminal Justice last year. Her central role in the second series of the courtroom drama was Oscar-worthy; so much pain and untold suffering conveyed in a movement of the eyes - it was a masterclass in restrained, pitch-perfect acting.
Hopefully, come next summer when the BAFTA TV awards celebrate 2010's television highlights, they will not make the same mistake again, and reward Peake for her talents by at least giving her a nod in the nominations for best leading actress for this superb BBC film. She plays Anne Lister, a 19th-century diarist. She owned a lot of land, was an unashamed lesbian, and wrote the private details of her life in her journals. We are told at the end of the film that it was 150 years after her death before her words were fully realised, as she used a code to protect those she wrote about. "I love and only love the fairer sex" she tells us, and proceeds to have sex in the forest with long-time lover Mariana.
But Mariana becomes engaged. To a man. Clearly, this is tough for Anne, as she has harboured the (perhaps delusional) wish that her friend become her future wife. Of course, this wouldn't have been practical or even possible in the England of this time. Although lesbianism was not illegal, and didn't carry social dangers of the same magnitude as gay-male relationships, it was far from the life her gentle aunt and uncle had in mind for her. They seem to turn a blind eye to her activities with other females, but the rest of society proves not quite so forgiving.
It's an excellently made film, and the West Yorkshire moors look gorgeous in high definition. Peake's acting is second to none, but there is also a memorable turn from Gemma Jones as her kind Aunt. Jane English's script doesn't rush to tell us all Anne's secrets, and decides to end on a bittersweet moment in Anne's life which is tinged with both regret and hope for the future, instead of depicting her death of fever at the young age of 49.
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. Maxine Peake (Shameless, Little Dorrit) stars in a profoundly moving drama based on the real diaries of Anne Lister: a landowning woman who defied the conventions of her 19th century life to great scandal. Set in the small, elite world of high society at a time when lesbianism was just not tolerated, The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister is an inspiring story of 'the first modern lesbian' - a woman who challenged convention and was determined to simply be herself. Anne kept a detailed account of her life, loves and emotions in a fascinating and painfully honest four million word journal. A sizeable portion of the journal was written in code and the recent deciphering of these diaries has provided an astonishing insight into Anne's captivating life. This beautiful and compelling drama examines the life of Anne, the young heiress to the 400 acre Shibden Hall Estate, who has fallen for the beautiful and enigmatic Marianne. As soon as Anne is alone with the beautiful Marianna Belcombe, their passion for each other is all too obvious. For Anne, this is her soul mate, the woman she wants to share her life with. But when it is announced that Marianna is to be married to the wealthy, corpulent and older Mr Lawton, Anne is distraught. In a desperate attempt to forget Marianna, Anne throws herself into academic study. It is not long however before her libido gets the better of her and she begins a string of affairs, most notably with the wealthy heiress Ann Walker. Anne feels she can never love anyone as deeply as she has Marianna, but when the two are 'outed', Ann Walker proves a strong and supportive partner, willing to live as 'husband and wife'. Should Anne sacrifice real love for the chance to live freely and proudly as a lesbian? Actors Anna Madeley, Susan Lynch, Christine Bottomley, Gemma Jones, Dean Lennox Kelly & Tina O'Brien Director James Kent Certificate 15 years and over Year 2010 Languages English Duration 1 hour and 30 minutes (approx)
Feature-length BBC drama based on the life of Anne Lister, the 19th-century scholar, philanthropist and Yorkshire landowner, considered by many to be the first modern lesbian. Maxine Peake stars as Lister, a contemporary of Jane Austen who compiled a bitingly honest four million word diary detailing her inner life and loves, including her passionate relationship with long-term partner, heiress Ann Walker (Christine Bottomley).
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