To wonder what Keeley Hawes has on the BBC?

[RazaShah]

She's been in so many BBC dramas but she always plays the same person, sort of vaguely posh. Maybe Line of Duty was a bit different but she's back to the same schtick in Mrs Wilson this week.

There are so many actresses around and yet she always appears?

I understand that sometimes a channel such as the BBC has a contract price which includes her agreeing to appear in X number of series for that fee.

I was saying this the other day. She’s really good, I like her, but she’s always sort of distant and standoffish, dark horse and up her own arse type. I’d like a break from her, followed by some inspired casting where she gives us something new. She’s a skilled actress, so why can’t someone offer her a cool and intriguing role?

Haha, I LOVE this thread. So many other threads and members super serious and/or negative.
I like Keely Hawes - fab actress, although semi posh as you say. Her husband- he is GORGEOUS tho.

Totally know what you mean. Would like a bit more Jodie Whittaker instead tbh or new faces, or anyone but it is getting a bit samey.

Yes War someone needs to offer her something edgy on Channel 4 or something. Not more BBC establishment stuff.

I do like her though.

She’s not from posh stock, believe me- although her family are lovely.

And normally an actress will get a network deal where their contract stipulates that they do a certain amount of productions in a certain time. Others such as Sarah Lancashire, Jenna Coleman and Billie Piper probs had similar deals.

But did you see her in LoD?! She was AMAZING - one of the best tv performances I've ever seen..

I like her too.

I love her

Her and Suranne Jones are interchangeable in my head.

She is good ( I liked her in ashes to ashes)
But agree she is in everything! She does play similar characters too.

Well I did not know she was married to Matthew Macfadyen

Oh I couldn't agree more OP. TV companies are SO conservative and predictable with their casting. A couple of years ago it was Olivia Coleman in bloody everything!

Yes she is brilliant, nobody’s disputing that (I don’t think), just that she seems to play the same characters over and over, and is in a few quite big roles doing it. When she showed up in Mrs Wilson I was pleased, she’s great and really looked the part. Then I realised she was back into cold/mysterious/untrustworthy mode and I had hoped for something more interesting.

Surely this is more about the narrow range of female characters that are allowed to be in dramas, and the typecasting that those characters demand?

So - posh, possibly neurotic type = classically beautiful slim white woman with RP voice.

But KH in LoD -amazing (and different) character and portrayal. .

Olivia Coleman is STILL in everything, OP, she's just branched out a bit more to film and Netflix.

No i'm not disputing it either War and I like her when I've seen her on chat shows etc.

I think I read that about her having elocution lessons and her dad being a cabbie I think so absolutely credit to her for becoming a highly paid actress in big BBC dramas!

I didn't know that about the deals though, I thought that was with presenters etc and didn't realise actors did it too.

Her and Suranne Jones are interchangeable in my head

Glad it's not just me!

I too have a huge girl crush on her, but mainly her character in Ashes to Ashes.,

I want to be 80's Keeley. 😳😂😂😂

Google's said actress. Clicks to see hubby. Forgets point of thread....

These deals don’t happen for actors. Only for presenters. They’re known as a ‘golden handcuffs’ deal for a ‘face’ (so Ant and Dec for ITV and ITV only and Graham Norton same same for BBC. They are not allowed to appear on the ‘other’ side once the contract is signed).

They are worth millions to both sides. As a result, ‘jobbing’ actresses such as Keeley (as successful and brilliant as she is) are not ‘worth’ that investment.

She rates well with viewers, so she gets recast. Simple as that.

Loved her in Ashes to Ashes, not seen her in anything else tbh.

But I do know she's proudly not posh - Dad was a London cabbie and she grew up in a council flat.

I guess she's a good actor with a good agent and name recognition is a big factor in casting.

I know what you mean but so far I still like her. The biggest offender for always playing the part the exact same way is Nicola Walker though. I used to love her but now groan when I discover she’s in something I would probably have otherwise enjoyed.

I won’t hear a word against her. She proved beyond doubt in Line of Duty that she has all the range you could want. It’s not her fault that people keep wanting her to play repetitive characters. (See also Benedict Cumberbatch who gets this from people who’ve never heard Cabin Pressure). And she seems like a good laugh in interviews. And she was hardly “cold mysterious and untrustworthy” in Spooks, Ashes to Ashes or the Durrells for heavens sake.
RIP Lindsay Denton and Julia Montague.