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Lynda La Plante

Lynda La Plante

Actor, writer and producer · Born March 15, 1943 (83) · Liverpool, England, UK

Lynda La Plante, CBE, is an English author, screenwriter and former actress, best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 15, 1943 (83)
From
Liverpool, England, UK
Works as
Actor, writer and producer
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 5% in 30 days

What are Lynda La Plante's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
45%
Self
14%
Bonds
12%
Power
12%
Survival
7%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 2 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Cold
3
Contemplative
4
Dread
2
Bittersweet
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Thought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lynda La Plante's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on BritBox (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lynda La Plante's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Widows(2018)

    Original Series Creator · Original Story · Series Writer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Prime Suspect: Tennison(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Novel

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Prime Suspect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 13 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer

  • Above Suspicion(2009)

    Show 11 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Novel · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Imagine Me & You(2005)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Paul O'Grady Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Commander (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Producer · Writer

  • Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Framed(2002)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Warden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Writer

  • Mind Games(2001)

    Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Supply & Demand(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Killer Net(1998)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Bella Mafia(1997)

    Novel · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Trial & Retribution(1997)

    Show 30 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Prosecutors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Executive Producer · Writer

  • An Audience with Freddie Starr (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • The Governor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • She's Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · Associate Producer · Creator · Writer

  • The Lifeboat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 9 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Comics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Creator · Novel · Writer

  • Seekers(1993)

    Show Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Framed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • Seconds Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Screenplay

  • Civvies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • Prime Suspect(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · Associate Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Hidden Talents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Writer

  • Unnatural Causes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Partners in Crime(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis Betts

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • High Road to China(1983)

    as Lina

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 12 episodes · Creator · Writer

  • The Draughtsman's Contract(1982)

    as Mrs Clement

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Educating Marmalade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mrs Atkins

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Lisa Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Coming Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 6 episodes · as Muriel Maddocks

  • Sheppey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bessie Legros

  • The Gentle Touch(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Why Didn't They Ask Evans?(1980)

    as Mrs. Roberts

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Coming Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Cecilia Plasche (as Lynda Marchal)

  • Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Angela

  • Send in the Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Vera

  • The Professionals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Viv Copeland

  • The Sunday Drama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny Hiketier

  • Our Young Mr. Wignall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Vera

  • Beasts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Woman

  • Beasts: Special Offer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Young Woman

  • Rentaghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 5 episodes · as Tamara Novek

  • The Sweeney(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Eve Fisher

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • All Our Saturdays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Rita da Costa

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 9 episodes · as Molly Dolan

  • 1+1=1.5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Miss. Harvey

  • Z-Cars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 3 episodes · as Janey Hinden (as Lynda Marchal)

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Lena

  • Above Suspicion 2: The Red Dahlia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Creator

Career shape

A full career of 57 titles, 56 of them dated from 1956 to 2018.

Biggest box office

High Road to China (1983)

$28M worldwide

Highest rated

Prime Suspect (1991)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting28 of 57: 28 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stWriting25 of 57: 6 only writing, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thProducing12 of 57: 1 only producing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thOther crew19 of 57: 2 only other crew, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

57 titles, 20 with more than one role.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s12 · acting1980s14 · 10 acting · 4 crew1990s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew2000s8 · 1 acting · 7 crew2010s3 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Lynda La Plante's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 19 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · writer, producer

Supply & Demand (1998)

79th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer, producer

Prime Suspect (1991)

Midcredits 95th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lynda La Plante's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Lynda La Plante work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lynda La Plante's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alex Heffes shares the most, 3.

Composers

Producers