‘Nolly’ Review – A Breathtaking Portrait Of A British Television Icon

HELENA BONHAM CARTER as Noele Gordon (Courtesy of Quay Street Productions and MASTERPIECE)

Everyone loves a good behind-the-scenes drama. You’ve got your Feuds, your Fosse/Verdons, and your Being the Ricardos. There’s nothing quite like a peak behind the showbiz curtain, a glimpse backstage at what happens when the camera stops rolling and the stars step off the stage. And, as you might imagine, in the twisty, turny world of soap operas, that drama reaches even greater heights. Enter PBS and Russell T. Davies’ (Doctor Who) new show, Nolly – a glimpse at the life of British soap actress Noele Gordon and the events that led to her exit from the long-running ITV soap opera, Crossroads. Led by a breathtakingly vulnerable performance from Helena Bonham Carter, Nolly delivers a breathtaking, complex portrait of a British icon. Funny, heartwarming, and startlingly human, Nolly is a must-watch for all who love showbiz.

A Complex Portrait

Nolly shines a light on Noele Gordon (Helena Bonham Carter), an icon of British television. For nearly two decades, she’d been the face of ITV’s Crossroads, a soap opera about an English motel. But suddenly, after nearly eighteen years on the show, Gordon is unceremoniously fired, shown the door without so much as a thanks. Davies’ script follows the immediate aftermath of that firing – Gordon’s final days on the show, her next career moves, and her lasting influence on the industry. It’s a stark, emotional, and gripping portrayal of a star at the height of her prowess, staring down the barrel of an unknown future. All at once hilarious, heartbreaking, and deeply inspirational, Nolly offers a glimpse at the pitfalls of show business. It’s a story about Gordon’s career, her legacy, and her fight for survival.

At the show’s heart, of course, is Helena Bonham Carter’s breathtakingly vulnerable performance. Here is an actress at the apex of her career, delivering the kind of fearless performance all actors dream of giving. Carter’s Nolly is complicated, all at once warm and calculating. This is a woman who’s had to fight for her career, who’s had to face down hordes of suited men who think they know best. And with those battles, comes a certain coldness, an ability to manipulate people into doing exactly what you want. But at the same time, Carter exudes this warmth. Her Nolly knows everyone’s names, goes to cast and crew members’ weddings, and takes the time to usher people under her wing. She’s cold, and she’s often afraid to show vulnerability out of fear of ridicule. But at her heart lies a woman desperate for love and success, and Carter portrays that beautifully.

A Closer Look at Nolly’s Relationships

At its heart, Nolly is really about Gordon’s relationships – with her coworkers, the show’s executives, and herself. Each episode focuses on a specific aspect of Gordon’s departure from Crossroads. The first tackles her firing and its immediate aftermath, the second dives into the filming of her final episode of Crossroads, and the third explores what she does after leaving the show. And through each of these snapshots of her life, Davies digs into her various relationships. In particular, he leans on her relationships with costar Tony Adams (Augustus Prew) and Crossroads‘ producer, Jack Barton (Con O’Neill). Not to oversimplify what are multifaceted and complex relationships, but Adams primarily serves as Gordon’s biggest supporter while Barton acts as her chief opposition. They are the yin and yang forces of her life, showering her with support and criticism all at once.

And, caught in between those opposing forces, is Gordon’s view of herself. How does one make sense of a sudden firing when nobody’s given them any explanation? How do you navigate the realities of leaving a job after dedicating nearly twenty years of your life to it? And how can you make a name for yourself when it feels like everyone with any semblance of power is desperately trying to keep you down? These are the questions at the heart of Nolly, and they’re questions that Davies’ script deftly explores. Naturally, he doesn’t provide concrete answers in a general sense. Rather, he explores those questions through the prism of Gordon’s complicated experiences. And it all makes for a deeply compelling watch; equal parts sweet and heartbreaking and buoyed by gripping performances from Carter, Prew, and O’Neill.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Nolly delivers an emotional, gripping look at an icon of British television. Led by a captivating, breathtakingly vulnerable performance by Helena Bonham Carter, Nolly shines a light on the pitfalls of show business and the fragility of legacies. It’s a show about television as an industry and about the lives and relationships of those who make it. It’s as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, equal parts funny and deeply emotional. The direction is sharp and snappy; the script is tight and witty; and the performers all bring their absolute best to the material.

But, above all else, it’s full of love – love for Gordon, herself, and for the art of television as a whole. In a way, it’s the polar opposite of a lot of similar American shows. You’re not gonna walk away from Nolly feeling gross or guilty. Instead, you’ll walk away with a sense of warmth; the gift of having had a glimpse at such a multifaceted career. If you’re a fan of these kinds of docudramas, these glimpses behind the curtain, then Nolly‘s sure to delight. And even if you’re not, it’s a superbly well-made drama in its own right, and well worth a watch.

Nolly premieres March 17th at 9 pm on PBS. New episodes air Sundays at 9 pm.

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