Actress Maxine Peake has movingly described her lifelong obsession with the late comedy legend Victoria Wood, a decade after her passing. Peake, who starred in Wood's beloved sitcom Dinnerladies, revealed she still gets emotional when recalling the chance to work with her idol.
A Dream Come True for a Superfan
Maxine Peake was just 24 years old and fresh from drama school when she landed the role of Twinkle in the BBC series. The show, set in a factory canteen, ran from 1998 to 2000. Peake admits that even now, she finds it hard to believe she shared a set with Wood, having been "really obsessed" with her since the age of ten.
"I still get emotional," Peake confessed. "As a fan, I mean to be able to work with her, I couldn't believe it. I still don't believe I did that." She described the experience as "overwhelming," leaving her feeling awkward and nervous in the presence of not just Wood, but also co-stars like Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Thelma Barlow, and Anne Reid.
Celebrating a Comic Genius in New Documentary
Peake's heartfelt tribute comes as part of a new documentary, Becoming Victoria Wood, which hits select cinemas this weekend and will air on the U&Gold channel next month. The film aims to celebrate one of Britain's most cherished entertainers, featuring previously unseen material and interviews.
It will include contributions from friends and admirers including Michael Ball, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, and Joan Armatrading. The documentary bills the Lancashire-born star as "a comic genius whose sharp wit and observational comedy reshaped the landscape of British humour."
The Unmatched Craft of Victoria Wood
When asked about Wood's unique talent, Peake pointed to her peerless observation and timing. "It's the alchemy, isn't it?" she said on the Scarred For Life podcast. "There was nobody like her." Peake also reflected on Wood's deep understanding of Northern characters and the musicality of her writing.
"Her dialogue is like music," Peake explained, noting that in Dinnerladies, "if you got a word wrong, it pigged out like a bad note." She still watches reruns, citing a particular monologue by Thelma Barlow as "the most genius piece of comedy acting I think I've ever seen."
Victoria Wood died from cancer in 2016 at the age of 62. Her career spanned from her 1974 debut on New Faces to iconic sketch shows like Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV, stand-up tours, and poignant dramas such as Housewife, 49. For Maxine Peake and millions of fans, her legacy as a pioneering and deeply funny writer-performer remains undimmed.
