Boat Story standout star Daisy Haggard, praised for her “brilliant” performance in the dark comedy, has a string of acting credits to her name (but maybe you didn’t know her name!)
Lovers of the small screen have shared their delight at BBC drama Boat Story, which has been labeled ‘incredible’ and a ‘masterpiece’ by fans.
The violent thriller, laced with black humour, is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer, with some fans saying they ‘watched the whole show in one go’ – comparing it to Quentin Tarantino films.
The show, created by Harry and Jack Williams, the brothers who created The Missing and its spin-off Baptiste, tells the story of how Samuel (Peep Show’s Paterson Joseph) convinces Janet (Breeders’ Daisy Haggard) that they should take the drugs steal and sell. and divide the proceeds.
Those praised include Daisy Haggard, 45, who has been acting for more than two decades and whose face will be immediately recognizable to some, but they may find it difficult to name her.
Daisy is a talented writer and stage actor, as well as a veteran of the silver screen. She has been a determined man when it comes to television creativity. She has played major artistic roles in a number of major productions, and yet she has seemingly avoided going the celebrity route and focused more on the celebrity world. on her increasingly impressive portfolio of work than on fame.
Daisy Haggard is currently starring in the critically acclaimed BBC drama Boat Story, which has been compared to Quentin Tarantino’s black comedy. But she has a huge portfolio of work that many people are unfamiliar with
Some of her more high-profile roles include a one-off spot in a 2016 episode of Black Mirror (Bets) and she played the voice of the Ministry Lift in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
And perhaps her most famous performance is in the transatlantic comedy Episodes, starring Matt Le Blanc, Tamsin Grieg and Stephen Mangan. In it, Daisy plays the acerbic comedy face Myra Licht, in a beloved performance in which the star is barely recognizable, thanks in no small part to her impressive accent transformation.
Daisy comes from an impressive creative pedigree: the daughter of film director Piers Haggard and his wife, stained glass artist Anna Sklovsky.
With such pedigree, it is not surprising that Anna has followed in their creative footsteps. It is reported that she always knew she wanted to act, and would spend her childhood growing up in London doing dance performances and acting shows.
Despite – or perhaps because of – his involvement in the industry, Daisy’s father reportedly was not keen on his daughter becoming an actor.
However, when she was 15 years old, he reluctantly gave her a role in one of his productions: she played a teenage murderer in an episode of The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.
When it came time to apply to drama school, she had trouble getting in anywhere. The second time she applied, she took part in the two-year course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
After graduating, she barely worked in the industry for almost a decade, making a living largely through menial work, temporary retail jobs and the like, while she began earning roles in productions.
2004: The Lenny Henry Show
Daisy Haggard (pictured left) poses with Lenny Henry (pictured, center) and Simon Farnaby (pictured, right) in a promo shot for The Lenny Henry Show
A notable early acting job for Daisy was appearing in two episodes of The Lenny Henry Show, in 2004 and 2005.
The program featured an array of respected talent, including Alison Steadman and Hugh Laurie.
Other big names involved included Tamsin Greig and Sheridan Smith – and of course the star of the same name.
The show, which was a revival of the star’s previous format, featured a series of skits and recurring storylines, as well as stand-up. Daisy played the role of Detective Sargent Anderson.
2005: Man stroke woman
One of Daisy’s (pictured, bottom left) previous parts was the sketch show Man Stroke Woman, alongside actors such as Nick Frost and Amanda Abbington
Another of Daisy’s previous notable roles was in the BBC3 sketch show Man Stroke Woman.
There were two series of the British television comedy programme, the first of which aired in 2005 and the second in 2007.
Directed by Richard Cantor and produced by Ash Atalla, it featured a range of recognizable faces including Amanda Abbington, Meredith MacNeill, Nicholas Burns and Nick Frost.
According to the program description: “Some people think men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Well, this show brings the two together and turns it into a sketch comedy.
‘Played by a group of people in their 20s and 30s, the situations all hit close to home, but with a more extreme and comic slant.’
2010: The Persuasionists
Daisy Haggard (photo second left) appeared increasingly on the small screen in the mid and late 1990s
Between Man Stroke Woman and The Persuasionists, Dairy appeared in a significant number of shows.
These include an appearance in an episode of the Steve Coogan comedy Saxondale in 2006, after the first series of Man Stroke Woman, and a 2009 episode of Ashes to Ashes.
She won a leading role in the 2010 comedy The Persuasionists, alongside Adam Buxton and Simon Farnaby, among others.
This program was a comedy set in the offices of the fictional advertising company HHH&H.
Although not a major hit, the show received critical acclaim and some audience approval, although some considered it dated for the genre.
2020: Breeders
British actor Martin Freeman (pictured, left) co-starred with Daisy Haggard (pictured, right) in the black comedy Breeders
Another black comedy, Breeders, became a small-screen vehicle for Daisy’s talents.
In it she stars together with Martin Freeman (who also made the show with Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell).
The program is partly based on the life experiences of Martin Freeman and shows two people struggling with parenthood.
It ran for four seasons. The first premiered on Sky in March 2020, the second a year later.
The third part followed in March 2022 and the fourth and final series debuted in July this year.
2021: Back to life
Daisy Haggard in Back to Life, which she co-wrote and which was seen as an impressive achievement by many television fans
One of the highlights of Daisy’s impressive career to date is undoubtedly the drama Back to Life, which she co-wrote with Laura Solon and in which she stars as the main character Miri.
According to the show’s description: “After 18 years behind bars, Miri Matteson returns home and stumbles back to adult life in the claustrophobic seaside town she once knew in this half-hour comedy series.”
Although narratively and tonally different from Fleabag, some similarities allow Back to Life to be mentioned in the same concept as Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s phenomenally successful show.
In the words of the New York Times: ‘But just like that show, a talented actress plays a role that is purpose-built to showcase her charm and abilities. While Miri, Haggard screams, sings, frowns and flirts. She cuts her own hair and uses new balloons as weapons, which somehow makes it all seem natural.”
With what seems like universal praise from critics, it finally seems that this talented actor, who has graced the screens with quality performances for so many years, can now get the recognition her talent deserves.