The Unloved
Encyclopedia
The Unloved is a British television
drama starring Molly Windsor
, Susan Lynch
and Robert Carlyle
. It is about an eleven year old girl called Lucy (played by Molly Windsor) growing up in a children's home
in the UK's care system, and shown through her perspective. It is the directorial debut of Samantha Morton
, a Golden Globe Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated English actress. The story is semi-autobiograpical, Morton wrote and produced the film in collaboration with screenwriter Tony Grisoni
.
It was produced for Channel 4
and shown as part of its Britain's Forgotten Children series, and was first broadcast on 17 May 2009. The film drew an audience of two million viewers.
, the film cost £1.5million to make. The title of the film was inspired by a newspaper article Morton had read about children in the care system
. Morton spent time in other cities such as Newcastle
, Glasgow
and around London
although decided it was best to make a film about the world she knew and grew up in. Originally wanting to set the film in 1989, Morton later decided against it as she wanted to focus on the struggles of the present day and not want audiences to write it off as a historical piece. The scene where Lucy witnesses the rape
of Lauren didn't have Windsor present at the time as it was deemed inappropriate; her involvement in the scene was filmed separately and added later.
for best TV actor in November 2009.
On 10 May 2010 it was announced that the film had been nominated for 'Best Single Drama'; Lauren Socha was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
On the 6th June 2010, The Unloved won the BAFTA for Best Single Drama.
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
drama starring Molly Windsor
Molly Windsor
Molly Windsor is an English teen actress from , Nottinghamshire, best known for starring as Lucy Manvers in the 2009 BAFTA winning television film The Unloved.-Career:...
, Susan Lynch
Susan Lynch
Susan Lynch is an actor from Northern Ireland.-Early life:Lynch was born in Corrinshego, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland to an Italian mother and Irish father. Her brother is actor John Lynch, she has a sister, Pauline, who is a drama teacher at St...
and Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
. It is about an eleven year old girl called Lucy (played by Molly Windsor) growing up in a children's home
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
in the UK's care system, and shown through her perspective. It is the directorial debut of Samantha Morton
Samantha Morton
Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
, a Golden Globe Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated English actress. The story is semi-autobiograpical, Morton wrote and produced the film in collaboration with screenwriter Tony Grisoni
Tony Grisoni
-Biography:He has co-written several of director Terry Gilliam's films, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Tideland.Tony Grisoni worked in many different areas of film making before turning to screenwriting. QUEEN OF HEARTS, 1989 was his award winning first feature directed by Jon Amiel...
.
It was produced for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and shown as part of its Britain's Forgotten Children series, and was first broadcast on 17 May 2009. The film drew an audience of two million viewers.
Cast
- Molly WindsorMolly WindsorMolly Windsor is an English teen actress from , Nottinghamshire, best known for starring as Lucy Manvers in the 2009 BAFTA winning television film The Unloved.-Career:...
- Lucy - Susan LynchSusan LynchSusan Lynch is an actor from Northern Ireland.-Early life:Lynch was born in Corrinshego, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland to an Italian mother and Irish father. Her brother is actor John Lynch, she has a sister, Pauline, who is a drama teacher at St...
- Mother - Robert CarlyleRobert CarlyleRobert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
- Father - Lauren SochaLauren SochaLauren Marie Socha is a BAFTA award winning English actress, best known for her starring role in the E4 comedy-drama television series Misfits and a co-starring role in the Channel 4 drama The Unloved. She attended St. George's RC Primary School, Burton College and Saint Benedict School and...
- Lauren - Craig ParkinsonCraig ParkinsonCraig Parkinson is a British actor known for playing the twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the 2010 ITV drama Whitechapel.Parkinson first came to notice with his portrayal of English music mogul Tony Wilson in director Anton Corbijn's film Control .His film and television appearances include People...
- Ben - Kerry StaceyKerry StaceyKerry Stacey is an English actress who is best known for playing Toni Daggert in ITV's Emmerdale.Kerry has had a role on BBC1's Doctors, she commented "I play a character whose sister has committed suicide and she is reeling from that. She's very mixed up about the suicide...
- Social worker - Michael SochaMichael SochaMichael Socha is an English actor, best known for his roles in the critically acclaimed films This Is England and Summer, and the television series This Is England '86 and Being Human.-Early life:...
- Michael - Katie Withers - Jules
Production
Filmed entirely on location in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, the film cost £1.5million to make. The title of the film was inspired by a newspaper article Morton had read about children in the care system
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
. Morton spent time in other cities such as Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and around London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
although decided it was best to make a film about the world she knew and grew up in. Originally wanting to set the film in 1989, Morton later decided against it as she wanted to focus on the struggles of the present day and not want audiences to write it off as a historical piece. The scene where Lucy witnesses the rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
of Lauren didn't have Windsor present at the time as it was deemed inappropriate; her involvement in the scene was filmed separately and added later.
Awards
The film won Robert Carlyle a Scottish BAFTABAFTA Scotland
BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games...
for best TV actor in November 2009.
On 10 May 2010 it was announced that the film had been nominated for 'Best Single Drama'; Lauren Socha was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
On the 6th June 2010, The Unloved won the BAFTA for Best Single Drama.