Home / Arts and Entertainment / Anna Maxwell Martin on grief, acting, and being a dweeb
Anna Maxwell Martin on grief, acting, and being a dweeb
7 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Anna Maxwell Martin trained at Lamda after studying history at university.
- She became a single mother after her husband, director Roger Michell, died.
- Maxwell Martin is an advocate for vulnerable children and Action for Children.
Anna Maxwell Martin, celebrated for her roles in 'Bleak House' and 'Motherland,' shares insights into her life and career.
Recalling a childhood where she was a "happy weirdo" and an "introverted extrovert," Maxwell Martin pursued acting with singular ambition, supported by her scientist parents. Her journey included performing as a pearly queen and enduring the rigors of drama school, which taught her to overcome self-consciousness and the need for external validation.
Tragedy struck when her husband, director Roger Michell, passed away in 2021, leaving her a single mother. This profound loss reshaped her priorities, influencing her career choices to balance work with her children's needs. She now advocates for vulnerable children, finding purpose beyond acting.
