Secrets & Lies

Secrets & Lies is a British film from 1996 directed by Mike Leigh . The leading roles are played by Brenda Blethyn and Marianne Jean-Baptiste .The film tells the story of Hortense Cumberbatch, a successful black woman looking into her family background and discovers that her biological mother, Cynthia Rose Purley, a white woman from the working class.

While Leigh's screenplay wrote most of the scenes were improvised by the actors. ==[Prizes  edit ] == The film received five Academy Award nominations : for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Picture and Best screenplay.

The film won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Festival, and also the price for the Best Actress . ==[Cast  edit ] ==
 * Timothy Spall - Maurice Purley
 * Phyllis Logan - Monica Purley
 * Brenda Blethyn - Cynthia Rose Purley
 * Claire Rushbrook - Roxanne Purley
 * Marianne Jean-Baptiste - Hortense Cumberbatch
 * Elizabeth Berrington - Jane
 * Michele Austin - Dionne
 * Lee Ross - Paul
 * Lesley Manville - Social assistant
 * Ron Cook - Stuart
 * Emma Amos - Girl with scar
 * Brian Bovell - Brother of Hortense
 * Trevor Laird - Brother of Hortense
 * Claire Perkins - Sister Hortense
 * Elias Perkins McCook - Cousin Hortense