Exclusive: Amanda Abbington, actress of Sherlock, plays Maureen Lipman’s daughter in a new movie that is expected to become a sitcom.
Following her success on Strictly Come Dancing, Amanda Abbington plunged herself into work, starring in a new short film that is slated to be a sitcom.
Only a few weeks after leaving the Saturday night dance show, the mother of two shot the film Every Day Is a Bonus with Coronation Street legend Maureen Lipman in January of this year. At last, the film is making its festival rounds.
got a first look at the trailer and images for the film, which is set in that difficult period as the world came out of the pandemic-enforced lockdowns when families couldn’t see each other.
Amanda plays a daughter trying to maintain a loving relationship with her critical and difficult mother (Lipman) who lives a distance away.
The collaboration came about when producer and director Jane Sanger put out a call for scripts. This story from writer Jamie Hogarth resonated with her and the rest just fell into place
“I called for scripts being a seasoned producer and this one stood out. A friend of mine knew Maureen as we thought she’d be perfect and she loved the script. Our writer Jamie had a connection with Amanda and she loved the script too,” she explained.
The film has just begun a festival run but the ultimate plan is that the story and characters would get a series comission.
“I have only just started a festival run to quite prestigious festivals,” Jane explained. “I’m waiting to see what will happen.
“It’s also being used as a proof of concept for a sitcom,” she revealed.
In the trailer Amanda’s character is seen chatting to her mother on a video call as so many were forced to do during the period featured. Clearly emotional she is finding her mother’s distress difficult.
However amidst the seriousness of the pandemic, there is also humour as Maureen’s character struggles to get to grips with the video call technology.
She also pithily calls her daughter out on her wardrobe choices commenting on her peach blouse and asking “is that wise?”
Amanda is currently starring in a new play in the Park Theatre called When It Happens To You which examines the long-term effects of sexual assault for survivors and their loved ones.
She plays a distraught Pennsylvanian mum Tara, struggling to console her panicking young daughter after she was brutally raped in her New York apartment.
