Fighting for justice
The 1989 Hillsborough disaster is a tragedy many of us remember seeing unfold.
Now, 32 years later, ITV’s new drama Anne painfully brings to life the horrifying reality of that fatal day and the years that followed.
Four beautifully made but brutal episodes tell the story of the collective pain of the families of the 97 victims and the fight for justice through the eyes of the Williams family.
Anne Williams (Maxine Peake) and her husband Steve (Stephen Walters) lived in Formby, near Liverpool, with their children, including 15-year-old, football-mad son Kevin. After Kevin begged them to let him go to the FA cup semi-final match between his home team Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, Anne and Steve eventually gave in.
But as Anne waved goodbye to her excited son, she had no idea it would be the last time that she would see him after he was caught in the horrific crush.
“Anne was living a happy family life with husband Steve and the kids. They were a really happy family,” said Maxine. “And then Hillsborough happens and everything changes...”
The hard-hitting drama relives these moments before capturing the agonising hours that followed as Anne, Steve and the rest of the nation crumbled as they watched the events on TV.
But worse was to come when they were told their son had lost his life on the pitch and they were forced to identify him.
After Kevin’s passing, Anne refused to accept the original verdict of accidental death and set about exposing the truth about what happened. The series documents her tireless efforts against all odds, even when it brought more pain to her and her family, including the breakdown of her marriage to Steve.
Speaking about taking on the role of the late campaigner, who passed away in 2013, Maxine said it was an honour to shine a light on her and her late son.
Maxine, who met Anne’s daughter Sara in preparation for the role, said: “I feel very lucky and honoured to have played Anne. These roles are bigger than just a job.”
And even though it’s more than three decades since the tragedy, Maxine firmly believes it’s important that the victims’ legacies live on.
She said: “We must remind people of what happened. We must never forget. Because it isn’t over.
“There are some extraordinary human beings in the story of Hillsborough. Anne’s story was chosen for this drama. But it’s not just Anne. She was one of many, many men and women who dedicated their life to this and did so much to fight for justice.”