Maxine Peake on ‘Words of War’ and Why 2024 Was Deadliest Year for Journalists

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After receiving a BAFTA nomination for my portrayal of Delours Price, a former IRA member and hunger striker, in the critically acclaimed Disney+ series “Say Nothing” about The Troubles, I’m excited to step into a new role as another influential political figure on the big screen.

In the film “Words of War,” set to premiere on May 2, the well-known British actress, who has starred in “The Theory of Everything,” “Black Mirror” and “Peterloo,” will portray Anna Politkovskaya. In the early 2000s, Politkovskaya gained both national and international acclaim for her investigative journalism in Chechnya and her courageous reporting on the Russian military invasion and the brutal acts committed by its soldiers. However, this also made her a nuisance to Vladimir Putin’s regime. Despite enduring years of harassment, threats, and even poisoning attempts, she was tragically murdered outside her Moscow apartment in 2005.

Under the direction of James Strong and featuring an impressive ensemble of British actors such as Jason Isaacs, known for his role in “White Lotus,” portraying Politkovskaya’s husband, and Ciaran Hinds, a nominee for the Academy Award, playing her Nobel Peace Prize-winning newspaper editor, the film “Words of War” boasts the support of Sean Penn, who took on the role as producer. However, Peake mentions that she has not had the chance to meet him yet.

Or, more concisely:
James Strong directs “Words of War,” a movie with an array of British stars like Jason Isaacs from “White Lotus” as Politkovskaya’s husband and Ciaran Hinds, an Oscar nominee, as her Nobel Peace Prize-winning newspaper editor. Sean Penn is the producer, though Peake hasn’t met him yet.

In conversation with EbMaster, Peake talks about choosing to give Politkovskaya a regional English accent (to avoid portraying her as “posh,” which she felt could be misconstrued) and her affinity for stories that depict the struggle of the oppressed against their oppressors. Additionally, she highlights the significance of a movie focusing on journalists under attack during the recent Gaza conflict, a time when journalist casualties reached an all-time high in history.

I rather proudly think I’m quite knowledgeable, but before viewing “Words of War,” I must confess that Anna Politkovskaya was barely known to me. Have you been familiar with her prior to this movie?

I recognized her name, and I was aware that she had been murdered. However, my knowledge about her was limited. I vaguely recall seeing it in the news once. This left me wondering why I didn’t know more about her, especially given my interest in such matters. When the script about her life came across, I was thrilled. Initially, I thought I would have to audition for the role, but Miriam Segal, the producer, informed me that it wasn’t an audition – it was an offer. I am thankful for her kindness because I understand the challenges in securing funding for a film about an unknown name like mine. So, I felt deeply honored that Miriam had taken such a risk on me.

Did you do a deep dive into Anna as a person and her life and work?

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but find it intriguing. We possess her Russian diaries and she’s penned numerous books, offering a profound exploration of Putin and his administration. Yet, what struck me was the number of people I encountered who claimed to have interacted with her. It felt strange, almost surreal. They’d casually mention, “Oh, I worked with her through an organization.” Another acquaintance had recently conversed with her before her untimely demise. Most interactions seemed fleeting: brief conversations or knowing someone who knew her. I was compelled to gather fragments and endeavor to comprehend her spirit.

I found it delightful that characters in “Words of Wars” don’t speak with a Russian accent, instead using a local English dialect, similar to “Chernobyl” and “The Death of Stalin.” Can you share the reasoning behind this choice?

When they mentioned avoiding the Russian accent, I pondered if I should use Received Pronunciation (RP) instead. However, I felt it might come off as too formal or stiff. It’s a matter of class, isn’t it? And Moscow and Russia have an entirely different social structure. I didn’t want to stereotype her as upper-class just because she was intellectual. Instead, I decided to tone down my own accent slightly, keeping some earthiness that I believe she possessed. Then Jason agreed to do the same, softening his accent as well.

You’ve brought up Jason Isaacs, but you’re also working with an impressive lineup of British acting greats, both veterans and newcomers. These include Ciaran Hinds, Harry Lawtey, Ellie Bamber, Ian Hunt, Fady Elsayed, among others. Given that the story is Russian, did it ever feel unusual to be portraying it with a primarily British cast and in English?

From the moment you got involved, you seemed to fully embrace it. And the talent surrounding you was simply remarkable. It felt like everyone was drawn in, sensing this was a tale they wanted to be associated with. And it appeared to resonate, I found myself immersed in the world. Everybody seemed so committed to it, with exceptional actors joining for brief appearances because they were emotionally invested in the narrative.

The emotional intensity of the narrative is profoundly striking. Despite Putin’s continued presidency and his recent invasion of Ukraine, which has only increased his power as depicted in the movie, I can’t help but notice the alarming number of journalist attacks. Regarding the casualties in Gaza, a significant number have been reported over the past year. When was this film produced? Was the escalating violence or its aftermath something you took into account during production, or is it a topic you’ve pondered upon since then?

Approximately three years ago, we captured this footage. However, 2024 emerged as a particularly perilous year for journalists, with most of those who lost their lives being based in Gaza. Just prior to creating this piece, I was asked to attend the memorial service for Sheeren Abu Akleh, the well-known Al Jazeera journalist who was fatally shot by Israeli troops in 2022. Regrettably, more than 1000 days have passed since her tragic death, and no one has been brought to justice. The situation has only worsened since then. And given recent events, this film seems even more relevant.

The conclusion of ‘Words of War’ is exceptionally impactful, depicting many reporters who lost their lives throughout history. However, it carries an unsettling sense of being strikingly old-fashioned.

Yeah. It’s horrific. It’s a global epidemic.

Moving beyond the “Words of War,” your recognition as a BAFTA nominee for the impactful series “Say Nothing” concerning the Irish strife is well-deserved. Firstly, I’d like to extend my congratulations. However, given the profound and sensitive nature of the subject matter, it seems surprising that such a reaction would be garnered. Was this response something you had anticipated?

I’m truly grateful for your support. I thought the show would resonate with people and that there’s a demand for compelling political content, but I underestimated the overwhelmingly positive reaction it would receive. It seems there’s a generation that is either discovering this for the first time or, in the case of the young people of Northern Ireland, continues to grapple with the aftermath of British colonialism and apartheid. What took me by surprise was the general understanding about the events in Northern Ireland and the history behind the origins of British colonial rule, as well as its devastating consequences – a level of accuracy I wasn’t expecting across all age groups.

But is it a story you ever expected to be told on Disney+?

To be honest, I initially encountered skepticism when I shared that I was crafting a piece about the Troubles for Disney. Fortunately, they accepted the task.

Is it possible that, similar to Anna Politkovskaya, Dolours Price was another prominent political figure with a significant link to conflict and colonial rule, but from a different perspective? Or is it more likely that you tend to focus on such individuals and topics due to their connection to strife and imperial rule?

I find myself deeply attracted to these tales, and luckily, they found their way to me. I owe thanks to producer Miriam Segal for “Words of War” and casting director Nina Gold on “Say Nothing” for having faith that I could breathe life into these two remarkable characters. The struggles of the oppressed against the oppressor are the stories that catch my attention and resonate with my personal values and convictions.

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2025-05-02 13:50