Vera Drake (2004)
- Starring:
- Imelda Staunton, Philip Davis, (more)
- Director(s):
- Mike Leigh
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Independent Films, Drama, Foreign
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Written and directed by Academy Award-nominee Mike Leigh and set in England during the 1950s, this movie revolves around Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton), whose unrelenting dedication to her family is well known throughout her blue-collar town. However, there are more people than her rapidly aging mother and ill neighbor who depend on Vera's care. Though abortion was illegal and, of course, widely frowned upon in the '50s, Vera sees women going through unwanted pregnancies the same as she would anyone else -- human beings deserving of treatment. With this in mind, she regularly induces miscarriages for those who need them, and her patients are consistently grateful for her gentleness and understanding. Unfortunately for Vera, the law doesn't see her as aiding those in need; they interpret the abortions as murder, as do most of the other people in her life. When Vera's activities are revealed, her family life and relationships with those around her -- including the ones she helped nurse back to health -- are put in jeopardy. Vera Drake also features performances from Jim Broadbent, Heather Craney, and Philip Davis. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 125 mins
Complete Cast:
- Imelda Staunton - Vera Drake
- Peter Wight - Detective Inspector Webster
- Heather Craney - Joyce
- Alex Kelly - Ethel
- Eddie Marsan - Reg
- Helen Coker - WPC Best
- Jim Broadbent - Judge
- Simon Chandler - Mr Wells
- Tracy O'Flaherty - Nurse
- Tilly Vosburgh - Mother of Seven
- Craig Conway - Station Constable
- Paul Jesson - Magistrate
- Angie Wallis - Nurse Willoughby
- Jane Wood - Prisoner
- Billy Seymour - Child
- Lauren Holden - Dance Hall Girl
- Vinette Robinson - Jamaican Girl
- Joanna Griffiths - Peggy
- Nicholas Jones - Defence Barrister
- Lucy Pleasence - Sister Coombes
- Gerard Monaco - Kenny
- Alan Williams - Sick Husband
- Richard Graham - George
- Michael Gunn - Gaoler
- Paul Raffield - Magistrate's Clerk
- Sam Troughton - David
- Anthony O'Donnell - Mr Walsh
- Jake Wood - Ruffian
- Philip Davis - Stan
- Adrian Scarborough - Frank
- Daniel Mays - Sid
- Sally Hawkins - Susan
- Ruth Sheen - Lily
- Martin Savage - Detective Sergeant Vickers
- Lesley Manville - Mrs. Wells
- Nicky Henson - Private Doctor
- Philip Childs - Clerk
- Sid Mitchell - Very Young Man
- Billie Cook - Child
- Stephan Dunbar - Usher
- Robert Putt - Station Sergeant
- Vincent Franklin - Mr Lewis
- Nina Fry - Dance Hall Girl
- Angela Curran - Prisoner
- Judith Scott - Sister Beech
- Tom Ellis - Police Constable
- Leo Bill - Ronny
- Marion Bailey - Mrs Fowler
- Wendy Nottingham - Ivy
- Jeffry Wickham - Prosecution Barrister
- Eileen Davies - Prison Officer
- Rosie Cavaliero - Married Woman
- Chris O'Dowd - Sid's Customer
- Anna Keaveney - Nellie
- Heather Cameron - Child
- Director(s):
- Mike Leigh
- Writer(s):
- Mike Leigh
- Producer(s):
- Alain Sarde, Simon Channing-Williams
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Language, Adult Situations)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 2004 - Vera Drake - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Costume Design
- 2004 - Vera Drake - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Director
- 2004 - Vera Drake - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Actress
- 2004 - Vera Drake - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 2004 - Vera Drake - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 2004 - Vera Drake - National Society of Film Critics - Best Actress
- 2004 - Vera Drake - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
- 2004 - Vera Drake - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 2004 - Vera Drake - Venice International Film Festival - Best Picture
- 2004 - Vera Drake - Venice International Film Festival - Best Actress
