Lesley Manville | Cyril, “Phantom Thread”
What was different about this role for you?
Working with an American director, which I had done before, but I haven’t done it very often. [Paul Thomas Anderson] is an extraordinary director to work with. He’s so warm and collaborative and open. There’s nothing of this archetypal, if you could imagine an archetypal Hollywood director, to be. He’s a thoroughly decent, proper person. And, of course, I had the benefit of working with a living legend, Daniel Day-Lewis. Paul honestly is one of my favorite people in the entire world. And I’ve met a lot. [laughs]
What does the nomination mean to you at this moment?
In terms of my career, it may well open up things a bit more for me in the States. That would be great.
But the thing, more than anything, that means something to me, is … it feels to me like the culmination of over 40 years of hard work, putting in the time, doing lots of plays for very little money when I was young. Just working very hard. It feels to me like a personal moment. I had a lovely, quiet evening the night I got nominated, at home. It was a good moment to quietly reflect and take stock. I just felt very proud of myself, and that’s the best feeling you can have.
And it’s really great for my son. There’s not many people who’ve been to the Oscars with both their parents. [Her ex-husband, father of their son, is fellow nominee Gary Oldman.] I think he realizes he’s in quite a unique position.