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MTDb โ€บ Best of โ€บ 1996 โ€บ Secrets & Lies

Secrets & Lies poster

Secrets & Lies (1996)

โ€œRoxanne 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.โ€

7.6/10 ยท 755 votes 2h 22m r Drama

#5 of 95 films from 1996 #628 of 3759 in drama

Directed by Mike Leigh ยท Written by Mike Leigh

โ–ถ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

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.

Cast

Brenda Blethynas Cynthia Rose Purley
Marianne Jean-Baptisteas Hortense Cumberbatch
Timothy Spallas Maurice Purley
Phyllis Loganas Monica Purley
Claire Rushbrookas Roxanne Purley
Lee Rossas Paul
Lesley Manvilleas The Social Worker
Elizabeth Berringtonas Jane
Michele Austinas Dionne
Ron Cookas Stuart
Trevor Lairdas Hortense's Brother
Brian Bovellas Hortense's Brother
Emma Amosas Girl with Scar
Clare Perkinsas Hortense's Sister in Law

Facts

Release dateMay 24, 1996
Runtime142 min (2h 22m) โ€” longer as the 1996 average of 109 min
GenresDrama
LanguageEN
Budget$4,500,000
Box office$13,417,292 (3.0ร— budget)
IMDbtt0117589

More from Mike Leigh

NakedNaked1993 ยท โ˜… 7.3 ยท 2h 11m Happy-Go-LuckyHappy-Go-Lucky2008 ยท โ˜… 6.6 ยท 1h 58m Mr. TurnerMr. Turner2014 ยท โ˜… 6.5 ยท 2h 30m

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Questions

How long is Secrets & Lies?
Secrets & Lies runs 142 minutes (2h 22m).
Is Secrets & Lies worth watching?
TMDB users give it 7.6/10 across 755 votes, which places it #5 of 95 films released in 1996 in this index (top 96%) and #628 among 3759 drama titles.
Who directed Secrets & Lies?
Secrets & Lies was directed by Mike Leigh. Other well-rated titles by the same director: Naked (1993), Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Mr. Turner (2014).
Who stars in Secrets & Lies?
Brenda Blethyn as Cynthia Rose Purley; Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Hortense Cumberbatch; Timothy Spall as Maurice Purley; Phyllis Logan as Monica Purley; Claire Rushbrook as Roxanne Purley; Lee Ross as Paul.
What is Secrets & Lies rated?
It carries a r certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for Secrets & Lies?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/27090.

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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.