British actress Maxine Peake chatted about starring in the new movie “Words of War,” where she played slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
Aside from Peake, the film stars Jason Isaacs, Ciarán Hinds, Ian Hart, Ellie Bamber, Harry Lawtey, Naomi Battrick, and Ben Miles. It will officially be released tomorrow via Rolling Pictures.
“Words of War” is from two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn (who serves as an executive producer), and BAFTA-nominated and Emmy award-winning director James Strong, who directed from a script by Eric Poppen.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” This quote applies to Maxine Peake and her character, Anna, in the new feature film “Words of War.”
Peake on portraying Anna Politkovskaya
Journalist Anna Politkovskaya’s (Maxine Peake) brave crusade, fighting to be an independent voice of truth for the Russian people, puts her own life in jeopardy. Anna’s voice was silenced but her legacy lives on.
Anna’s story serves as a reminder of the dangers that journalists face and the importance of protecting their right to report the news without fear of death or reprisal.
Peake was drawn to playing Anna Politkovskaya due to her real-life character’s brevity and indomitable spirit. “I loved being able to go into that world, and I had the honor to get to play such an extraordinary and inspirational woman,” Peake said.
Working with Jason Isaacs and director James Strong
On working with Jason Isaacs, who played her husband Sasha, she exclaimed, “Working with Jason was brilliant. He is a real team player,” she said.
Peake also complimented director James Strong. “James Strong was fantastic as well. He let us off the leash and he allowed us to play, so that was great,” she added.
Lessons learned from the screenplay
On the lessons learned from this script, Peake said, “It made me question what I would do if I were in her shoes, and I don’t think I would be brave enough, especially if I knew that my life was in danger.”
Success
Peake defined the word success simply as “contentment” in life. “Success means being content,” she admitted.
Closing thoughts
For fans and viewers, Peake remarked about the movie, “I want them to enjoy the film even though it is a difficult subject matter.”
“I want people to ask questions about where their news come from, what are the sources, and do some investigating,” she acknowledged.
“Also, we’ve got to fight tooth and nail to keep our press free, and to keep our journalists safe and alive to tell us our truth,” she concluded.
To learn more about British actress Maxine Peake, follow her on Instagram.
