The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd (1995)

Intro

A play by D.H. Lawrence, adapted for television, and first broadcast on 14 October 1995, 8.55pm (BBC2).

Running time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Photos

The first photo shows (from left to right) Lizzie Holroyd (played by Zoe Wanamaker), her friend Mr Blackmore (Stephen Dillane), and her husband Charles Holroyd (Colin Firth). The second shows Lizzie looking troubled. The third shows Lizzie and Charles.

With thanks to The AFirthionado - A Colin Firth Fanpage and Nadine for the photos.

Overview

Set in a small mining community, The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd charts the breakdown of the relationship between Charles Holroyd, a coarse, drunken pit-worker, and his embittered wife, Lizzie.

Disturbed by her husband's erratic behaviour, Lizzie is tempted to elope with the local electrician, Mr Blackmore. At her lowest ebb, she wishes Charles dead.

In a cruel twist of fate, Lizzie's husband then loses his life in a mining accident. Mourning her loss, Lizzie rediscovers her love for Charles and is forced to reconsider his character.

Cast

Stephen Dillane ... Mr Blackmore

Zoë Wanamaker ... Lizzie Holroyd

Colin Firth ... Charles Holroyd

Brenda Bruce ... Grandmother

Shane Fox ... Jack Holroyd

Lauren Richardson ... Minnie Holroyd

Wayne Foskett ... Rigsby

Melanie Hill ... Laura

Mossie Smith ... Clara

Peter Needham ... Mine Manager

Gavin Abbott and Christopher Brand ... Miners

Crew

Director: Katie Mitchell
Production Designer: Jonathan Taylor
Make-up Artist: Caroline Noble

Notes

Much earlier in her career, when working in regional theatre, Zoe played Clara in a stage production of The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd (1975).

Press coverage

The programme is 'utterly heart-breaking', wrote Lynne Truss in The Times.

Merchandise

The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd Region 1 DVD

The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd by D. H. Lawrence