Amandaland – 2025
Now, Lucy is the star in a new spin-off, Amandaland, where she spotlights as a post-popular yummy-mummy struggling to cope with a divorce – all while navigating the new surroundings of a less affluent part of town.
A synopsis of the show reads: ‘With both Manus and Georgie now at secondary school, Amanda has to try and get her head around raising teenagers, dealing with modern motherhood horrors like teenage drinking, fake Instagram accounts and eco anxiety.
‘Not even a woman as certain of her parenting as Amanda can deal with these nightmares alone.
‘Then there’s Amanda’s mother Felicity who is constantly around, and completely in denial that she is, in fact, lonely.’
The series follows the once-socialite Chiswick mother who has had to downgrade to more meagre property in Wormwood Scrubs, south Harlesden.
In Amandaland she spotlights as a post-popular yummy-mummy struggling to cope with a divorce (pictured with Philippa Dunne and Joanna Lumley)
Battling a new divorce, Amanda will rebrand as an interiors influencer, with the Instagram handle @Senuous – all the while trying to re-establish her social status in the ‘cool’ parent gang.
The move to misery is one Lucy said she is pleased with – with Amanda finally becoming a ‘relatable’ character.
Even her co-star, Joanna Lumley, who she described as a ‘second mum’, has a more palatable character in the new series. ‘She was much crueller in Motherland, more nasty and villainous,’ she said.
Speaking to The Times, Lucy insisted she is a million miles away from Amanda, who though slightly spiteful, boasts enviable levels of organisation and togetherness.
‘Unlike Amanda I’m disorganised and I’m not good at juggling. I’ve got two balls, one in each hand. That’s it, that’s as much as I can manage,’ she said reflecting on her own parenting style.
The show will be Lucy’s first act as lead role. Describing the anticipation in the run up to the show’s debut, the actress admitted she wasn’t letting herself ‘reflect’ too much in case she started to ‘freak out’.
She told The Independent: ‘I haven’t thought about it too much, otherwise I’d have freaked out a bit. I’ve never been front and centre; I’m used to playing a supporting character, and I like that. It’s less pressured.’
Motherland 2020-2022
Lucy (far right)was one of a start studded cast including, Diane Morgan, Anna Maxwell Martin, Oliver Chris and Tanya Moodie, in the hit BBC series, Motherland
Lucy was one of a star studded cast including, Diane Morgan, Anna Maxwell Martin , Oliver Chris and Tanya Moodie, in the hit BBC series, Motherland.
The show was written by Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz and Barunka O’Shaughnessy.
Lucy played the hilariously self-obsessed mother, Amanda, in the hit series, which explored the trials and tribulations of raising a family in middle-class suburbia – from competitive children, to motherly rivalry and the grimier sides of parenthood.
Amanda is as outrageously loathsome as she is beautiful and organised.
One of Lucy’s opening lines to a fellow mother is: ‘You work so hard, I really admire how you can just switch off your family and focus on your job because I would just hate myself too much.’
Speaking on why she loves playing terrible people so much in a recent interview, Lucy told The Independent: ‘Smugness and self-satisfaction and ego alongside massive insecurity, they make an interesting mix.
‘I’ve always liked people just verging on the grotesque. Not to be friends with, of course, but just to observe.’
Reiterating the sentiment, she told The iPaper in 2021: ‘I have played… A lot of b***hes and witches and ugly stepsisters.’
Bloods – 2021 – 2022
In 2021, Lucy was given a role in the Sky comedy, Bloods, where she plays Jo, a hub commander of paramedic unit (pictured with Julian Barratt)
In 2021, Lucy was given a role in the Sky comedy, Bloods, where she plays Jo, a hub commander of paramedic unit in south London .
Jo is totally humourless and a hard as nails ex-army medic.
But despite her cold exterior and strained patience with most of her team, she harbours a hopeless crush on a grieving colleague, Lawrence, played by Julian Barratt.
Discussing the role at the time, she said: ‘It was nice to play someone that I respected, a capable, practical woman who is fantastic at her job. But when you see her with him, she’s in freefall.
‘She’s a woman in her 40s, who is so used to being in control, and then loses it and is just… melting.’
A Series of Unfortunate Events – 2017
In 2017, Lucy portrayed the evil Esmé Squalor in the second season of Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (pictured next to Neil Patrick Harris)
In 2017, Lucy portrayed the evil Esmé Squalor in the second season of Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.
She joined alongside Neil Patrick Harris, who played the villainous Count Olaf.
The series follows the – aptly named – unfortunate events of the three Baudelaire orphans, who are being hunted for their fortune by various evil characters.
Lucy appeared as one of Count Olaf’s theater troupe who have their hearts set on nabbing the Baudelaire fortune.
She got to flex her muscles as a devilishly evil theatre player, who got to roll off scandalous lines like, ‘If we give money to poor people, they won’t be poor anymore and we won’t have anyone to feel sorry for.’
Into The Woods – 2014
Lucy took on the role alongside industry legends, Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp in the Disney’s Into the Woods (pictured with Christine Baranski and Tammy Blanchard)
Into the Woods was one of four films in which the actress was cast as an Ugly Sister.
She played one of three stepsisters, taking on the aptly named role of Lucinda.
Lucy took on the part alongside industry heavyweights Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp in the Disney Adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical.
Reflecting on her archetypal role of unlikable women, she The Guardian at the time: ‘I was always playing witches and crazy women.’
She added: ‘When I was 11, I had an Ugly Sister birthday party. All my idea.
‘Most girls want to be a fairy or a princess, but there I am with beauty spots and fur and fluorescent pink kiss-curls.When I told my mother about Into the Woods, she was like, “Oh darling, not again.”‘
Bad Teacher – 2011
The newly earned status landed her a role in 2011 comedy Bad Teacher with Cameron Diaz (left) and Justin Timberlake
Doors began to open for Lucy after she starred in Woody Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, with high-earning blockbusters now at her at her fingertips.
The newly earned status landed her a role in Bad Teacher with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake.
Reflecting on the role in 2011, Lucy told You Magazine that the role ‘changed everything’ for her.
Lucy played an angelic but prudish tutor, Amy Squirrel, who competes for the affections of Justin Timberlake – Scott – against the foul-mouthed Elizabeth Halsey, played by Cameron Diaz.
Lucy previously admitted the conservatively-clothed role offered much needed respite from other roles in which she’d be cast as tight-dress wearing love interests.
She said she relieved not to have to ‘ worry about fitting into miniskirts and tossing around in high heels and tons of makeup and looking fake-y attractive.’
‘We’re competing for Justin, and in any other universe that would be absurd. I certainly wouldn’t want to be competing with Cameron Diaz in the vamping department,’ she explained.
At the time, her career was just beginning to take off – but she admitted her pay packet wasn’t evidence of this.
She told You: ‘Every movie I’ve done, when they cast me they knew I’d probably do it for a toffee apple and a Frappuccino. Everyone assumes you must be making a fortune, but I’m still driving around in my bashed-up Honda Civic.’
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger – 2010
In Woody Allen’s 2010 film, the actress took on the role of Anthony Hopkins ‘ gold-digger girlfriend Charmaine (pictured with Naomi Watts and Woody)
In Woody Allen’s 2010 film, the actress took on the role of Anthony Hopkins ‘ gold-digger girlfriend Charmaine. She delivered scene stealing performances in the film, donning huge platinum hair, fake nails and everything in between.
Lucy reportedly bagged the role after Nicole Kidman dropped out.
Reflecting on the news that she had landed the part, Lucy told the iPaper in 2021 that she had immediately relayed the exciting news to her friends and family – eagerly telling them she was going to star in a Woody Allen film called ‘Wasp’.
‘I was told, when Woody feels like the film is going to be really good, he likes to give a really short, punchy title like Scoop, or… Wasp. Of course, months later I found out that stood for Woody Allen Summer Project and that the film was going to be called, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, which was the biggest mouthful,’ she told the publication.
She previously described the role as life changing. ‘Getting that was a huge endorsement. I still had to audition for things, but the feeling was ,”If she’s good enough for Woody…,”‘ she told The Guardian.
While she said the role was ‘fun’, Lucy revealed in a later interview that she hadn’t enjoyed having to ‘wear these tiny outfits’ and watch what she ate. ‘That side was really, really boring,’ she told Vulture .
In an interview with The Independent last week, the actress described the project as a ‘failure’ in hindsight – despite having previously called it ‘life changing’.
‘There are plenty of [personal regrets] that I don’t want to actually resurrect and talk about. My list of failures? I did a film with Woody Allen, a very long time ago, and I’d been out of work for a long time before I got that,’ she told the publication.
‘That really changed my life, getting that job, because I was ready to pack it all in. It’s difficult to say that now because of all the stuff that’s happened around him since then.’
Nevertheless, she said she remains ‘proud’ of what was one of her breakthrough films.
Dinner for Schmucks – 2010
Lucy played Darla in the 2010 film Dinner For Schmucks starring Steve Carrell.
Her character was a corset sporting tight-legging donning blonde bombshell who is obsessed with the main character in the film.
The film was a remake of Francis Veber’s 1998 French movie, Le Dîner de Cons, and boasted big Hollywood names including Paul Rudd, Bruce Greenwood and Ron Livingstone.
The comedy follows a sadistic dinner party game that all ends in disaster.
Lucy played Darla in the 2010 film Dinner For Schmucks starring Steve Carrell
Hot Fuzz – 2007
She was famously decapitated in Hot Fuzz after she and her lover, Martin, were both both murdered by the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance
Lucy Punch was cast as Eve Draper in the cult-classic Hot Fuzz alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
She was famously decapitated in the British blockbuster after she and her lover, Martin, were both both murdered by the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance.
Their heads were lobbed off and garishly left rolling about in the road in the film – with Lucy admittedly only nabbing a short moment of screen time.
St Trinian’s – 2007
Lucy starred in the beloved teenage film following St. Trinian, a school for young women, is on the verge of bankruptcy
The beloved teenage film follows St. Trinian, a school for young women, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.
But desperate not to see their school shut down, soldiering students make a master plan to rob a priceless painting and use its revenue to save the institution.
It was based on the works of cartoonist Ronald Searle – and was a remake of former favourite movies series that was filmed between 1957 – 1980.
In the film, Lucy plays Verity Thwaites, the Minister’s daughter, and Cheltenham’s school bully.
She starred alongside Talulah Riley, Juno Temple, Colin Firth, Stephen Fry and the singer Paloma Faith.
Ella Enchanted – 2004
Lucy found her calling as the lookalike to Joanna Lumley when she was given a role as her daughter in Ella Enchanted (pictured alongside Anne Hathaway)
The doppelganger of Joanna Lumley, Lucy finally found her calling as the close look-alike to the actress when she was given a role as her daughter in Ella Enchanted in 2004.
The film was loosely based on Gail Carson Levine’s 1997 novel of the same name and followed a fairytale story of Ella of Frell, who was bestowed the gift of ‘obedience’ as a newborn and battles evil siblings – all while seeking the affections of Prince ‘Char’ Charmont.
One of her four stints playing an Ugly Sister, Lucy played Hattie, one of Ella’s cruel stepsisters who is obsessed with Prince Charmont.
She joined a star studded cast including Anne Hathaway, Steve Coogan, Heidi Klum and Joanna Lumley, who played the evil stepmother to the protagonist, Dame Olga.
Let Them Eat Cake – 1999
The British sitcom that aired on BBC One in 1999 and was one of the few programmes in which French and Saunders have both appeared which they did not create themselves
Lucy took on the role was Eveline de Plonge in the short-lived Versailles-set French and Saunders series, Let Them Eat Cake.
The British sitcom that aired on BBC One in 1999 and was one of the few programmes in which French and Saunders have both appeared which they did not create themselves.
