Dans son rôle de l’arrogante infirmière Redd dans la série Grotesquerie d’FX, Lesley Manville a livré une performance marquante de la saison. Bien qu’elle n’ait pas encore regardé son travail, elle se réjouit des réactions enthousiastes de son fils. Manville a trouvé l’humanité inattendue de la série captivante, la qualifiant de réflexion sur l’état actuel des États-Unis. Avec une finale en cliffhanger, elle reste ouverte à l’idée de revenir pour une éventuelle seconde saison, espérant que son personnage devienne une icône.
In her role as the audacious Nurse Redd in FX’s Grotesquerie, Lesley Manville delivered one of the standout performances of the television season. However, she hasn’t yet viewed the show herself.
“I haven’t actually watched it yet,” Manville shared. “But my son is watching, and he’s absolutely loving it.” Currently, the actress is involved in a London production of Oedipus while filming a new movie, leaving her with “no room for it at the moment,” as she puts it. “And I want to give it space.”
Manville enjoys listening to her son’s enthusiastic reactions to the unraveling plot, and although “he loves to think he can work out the mystery before it gets revealed,” she reassured him, “You’re not going to work it out.” As it turns out, he didn’t manage to guess the twists. By the conclusion of the pivotal seventh episode, she noted he was “jaw-droppingly shocked” by what transpired.
She expressed similar astonishment to the series creator, Ryan Murphy, after reading Episode 7’s script. “I emailed him right away, saying, ‘I don’t think in my whole career I’ve ever read such jaw-dropping reveals, or had the rug pulled out from under my feet as to what I thought was going to happen.’”
The wildly inventive concept of Grotesquerie was not the only factor that drew Manville to the role; the show’s depth and humanity truly captivated her.
“For all its excess, it’s really a portrayal of the state of the US,” she noted. “It’s a state-of-the-nation piece that delves into the emotional struggles of people and how they cope with loneliness. Ryan masterfully explores complex, real-life dilemmas — from politics and religion to surviving as an individual, finding a slice of happiness, and infusing love into everyday life. He has a unique perspective on these intricate issues, and I truly admire how he navigates the human experience.”
Manville enjoys portraying characters vastly different from herself, and the “massive cherry on the cake with Grotesquerie” was the opportunity to embody two such personas. “The theatrical, exaggerated, comic-book essence of Nurse Redd was incredibly appealing to me,” she remarked. “It was Ryan’s idea to give her a British twist, which added an interesting layer. By Episode 7, we discover she’s actually an American, reflecting her lifestyle and environment. That was quite a challenge for me.”
Instead of providing a tidy conclusion to the season’s narrative, the Oct. 30 finale concluded on a suspenseful cliffhanger, with Lois uncovering the identity of the show’s titular serial killer — though she never discloses it. This creates possibilities for any, if not all, cast members to return, and Manville is “certainly open to discussions on that.”
“[Redd] is such a great character,” she states. “The show has been successful, so I’m sure they’ll want to continue. They’ll need to approach me, but that’s beyond anyone else’s control.”
No matter what the future has in store for Redd, she has firmly established her presence as one of the most unforgettable characters in the Murphyverse. Manville suggests that there’s one element that could solidify her as an icon: “I think Ryan secretly hopes that people will want to dress up as Nurse Redd for Halloween.”
What are your expectations for a second season of Grotesquerie? Were you satisfied with the cliffhanger of the finale?
Dans son rôle de l’audacieuse infirmière Redd dans Grotesquerie sur FX, Lesley Manville a livré l’une des performances les plus marquantes de la saison télévisée. Cependant, elle n’a pas encore regardé la série elle-même.
“Je ne l’ai pas encore regardé,” a partagé Manville. “Mais mon fils la regarde, et il adore ça.” Actuellement, l’actrice est impliquée dans une production londonienne d’Œdipe tout en tournant un nouveau film, ce qui lui laisse “aucun espace pour le moment,” comme elle le dit. “Et je veux lui donner de l’espace.”
Manville apprécie d’écouter les réactions enthousiastes de son fils face à l’intrigue qui se déroule, et bien qu’“il aime penser qu’il