Secrets & Lies
“Roxanne drives her mother crazy. Maurice never speaks to his niece. Cynthia has a shock for her family. Monica can't talk to her husband. Hortense has never met her mother.”
Synopsis
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to Cynthia, a working class white woman.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-03-05
Top Cast
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Brenda Blethyn
Cynthia Rose Purley
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Hortense Cumberbatch
Timothy Spall
Maurice Purley
Phyllis Logan
Monica Purley
Claire Rushbrook
Roxanne Purley
Lee Ross
Paul
Lesley Manville
The Social Worker
Elizabeth Berrington
Jane
Michele Austin
Dionne
Ron Cook
Stuart
Trevor Laird
Hortense's Brother
Brian Bovell
Hortense's Brother
Emma Amos
Girl with Scar
Clare Perkins
Hortense's Sister in Law
Elias Perkins McCook
Hortense's Nephew
Jane Mitchell
Senior Optician (as June Mitchell)
Janice Acquah
Junior Optician
Keylee Jade Flanders
Girl in Opticians (as Keeley Flanders)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Mar del Plata Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 27, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 21, 2022
VOD & Digital Platforms
April 15, 1997
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$13.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.98x
+$8.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mike Leigh
- Screenplay & Story
- Mike Leigh
- Original Score
- Andrew Dickson
- Original Title
- Secrets & Lies
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, France
- Spoken Languages
- Greek, English
- Runtime
- 2h 22m
- Production Budget
- $4.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $13.4M
- Production Studios
- CiBy 2000, Thin Man Films, Channel Four Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mike Leigh
Mike Leigh
Andrew Dickson
Dick Pope
Jon Gregory
Simon Channing Williams
Department Leadership Roster
Simon Channing Williams
Producer
Andrew Dickson
Original Music Composer
Dick Pope
Director of Photography
Jon Gregory
Editor
Mike Leigh
Writer
Mike Leigh
Director
Maria Price
Costume Design
Alison Chitty
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Secrets & Lies.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Secrets & Lies.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Secrets & Lies
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Secrets & Lies about?
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to Cynthia, a working class white woman.
Who directed Secrets & Lies?
Secrets & Lies was directed by Mike Leigh.
Who stars in Secrets & Lies?
The principal cast of Secrets & Lies includes Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Timothy Spall, Phyllis Logan, Claire Rushbrook.
When was Secrets & Lies released and how long is it?
Secrets & Lies was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 2h 22m.
What was the box office and production budget of Secrets & Lies?
Secrets & Lies had a reported production budget of $4.5M and grossed $13.4M at the worldwide box office (2.98 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Secrets & Lies?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Secrets & Lies was composed by Andrew Dickson.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Secrets & Lies?
Secrets & Lies holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).