Criminal justice maxine peake biography
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Nothing is black or white, good or bad and that's what I found completely compelling and very realistic.
"I hope that viewers will be engrossed in Juliet's journey, but also not be quite sure about her, especially in the beginning.
"But what's clear from the start is she's a troubled woman.
"Her solicitor, Jack, suspects that Juliet is an abused woman who is depressed because her husband's a controlling bully capable of physical and emotional abuse.
Outwardly she seems to have the perfect life: a lovely daughter, Ella, a beautiful home and a successful apparently adoring husband, but something's very wrong. It occurred to me that writing a second Criminal Justice with a woman as the main character and the family courts alongside the criminal courts would make for impactful drama and a fresh way of looking at the system.
Criminal Justice shot earlier this year on locations in and around London and was directed by Yann Demange (episodes one to three) and Marc Jobst (episodes four and five) and produced by Steve Lightfoot. Despite facing multiple rejections from drama schools, at age 21 she won a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, marking a key milestone in her journey as an actress.
Age, Identity, and Background
Maxine Peake is 51 years old as of 2025.
They have one daughter, 13-year-old Ella (Alice Sykes).
One night Joe is stabbed in his home. Maxine Peake’s story is one of talent, perseverance, and authenticity, proving that true artistry transcends fame.
This article is written for primeheadlines.
Criminal Justice reunites writer Peter Moffat with BBC executive producer Hilary Salmon.
"Once her husband is stabbed she's in very deep water. I have always been struck by the fact that the world of family law is hidden, secret and consequently misunderstood. There's a lot that is good about our system and a lot that is bad.
"Criminal Justice has a unique point of view. I hope that Criminal Justice can help bring that strength of feeling out into the open and make it part of a bigger conversation."
The first Criminal Justice broadcast in June 2008 to great acclaim and has since won the prestigious BAFTA for Best Drama Serial and also gained newcomer Ben Whishaw the RTS Best Actor award, and a BAFTA nomination, for his portrayal of Ben Coulter.
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Maxine Peake stars as Juliet Miller, a mother in desperate trouble.
Maxine Peake has established a reputation as a very fine actress indeed.
She appeared in Peterloo (2018) as Nellie and has also written and performed in plays such as Queens of the Coal Age and Beryl, which explore historical and working-class stories.
Her career reflects a commitment to challenging roles, socially relevant narratives, and complex character portrayals, making her one of the most respected figures in British acting.
Net Worth and Financial Snapshot
Estimates of Maxine Peake’s net worth vary, with some sources reporting around US $1 million and others estimating up to US $4 million.
Her practice involved a lot of work involving children being taken into care and damaged women with children. These figures reflect her consistent work in television, film, and theatre, though she is not among the highest-earning celebrities. This is because, as far as possible, I want the audience to share her experience.
"She's a real challenge to act because she's a complicated, damaged woman.
Last year's Criminal Justice was brilliant and well deserved its BAFTA. The big questions which the police and her lawyers are struggling with are: is Juliet capable of a cold-blooded attempted murder, or is she a desperate woman, committing a desperate act of self preservation? She then moved into drama with the role of Veronica Ball in the UK version of Shameless (2004–2007).