Vicky McClure: The British Star Who Refuses to Sell Out, and What Zambia Can Learn
British actress Vicky McClure, the undisputed queen of gritty crime dramas like Line of Duty and Trigger Point, is tired of being typecast. But more than that, she is tired of a system that only funds what it already knows. In an exclusive interview with hello! magazine, the 43-year-old from Nottingham revealed she wants to step into a lighter space, but the industry keeps shoving her back into the crime thriller box. It is a story that should sound painfully familiar to Zambians who watch our own creative talent get squeezed out by foreign tastes and international gatekeepers.
Why is Vicky McClure leaving crime dramas behind?
McClure, who became a household name with her role as Lol in This Is England and later as Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in Line of Duty, says the industry has lost the middle ground between drama and comedy. She asks a simple question: are we not allowed to make that anymore?
Her frustration is not just artistic. It is economic. Alongside her Welsh husband Jonny Owen, McClure co-founded the production company Build Your Own Films (BYO) to champion working-class voices. But even with her star power, getting passion projects backed by broadcasters is an uphill battle. She admits that brilliant projects will never see the light of day because the powers-that-be will not give the green light.
This is the same story we see in Zambia. Our filmmakers, musicians and artists have the talent, but the funding and distribution channels are controlled by outsiders who do not understand our stories. They want to copy what works in London or New York, not what speaks to the soul of Lusaka or Kitwe.
What can Zambia learn from Vicky McClure's fight?
McClure is not just complaining. She is fighting back. BYO was built to give writers from working-class backgrounds a chance to write their stories authentically. She refuses to produce something she does not believe in, and she refuses to work with people who already have well-progressed careers. That is the kind of stubbornness Zambia needs in its own creative sector.
We have the stories. We have the voices. What we lack is the will to back our own. McClure says she will not produce something she does not believe in. How many Zambian executives are willing to say the same about foreign content that drowns out our own?
Vicky McClure's loyalty to Nottingham is a lesson in national pride
Perhaps the most inspiring part of McClure's story is her loyalty to her home city. Unlike celebrities who flee to London, she stayed in Nottingham. In 2017, she chose not to transfer the Nottingham Playhouse production of Touched to the capital. She wanted to give it to Nottingham as Nottingham's thing.
Imagine if our own stars showed that kind of loyalty. Imagine if Zambian celebrities invested in Zambian productions, Zambian venues and Zambian talent instead of chasing foreign validation. McClure was awarded an MBE for services to drama and charity, but her real medal is the respect she has earned by staying true to her roots.
What is Day Fever and why does it matter?
McClure and her husband also launched Day Fever, a daytime disco for over-thirties who love to dance but want to be in bed at a reasonable hour. It is a fun project, but it is also a statement: you do not need to follow the crowd to succeed. You can create your own scene, on your own terms.
Zambia has the same spirit. Our people are creative, resilient and proud. But we need to stop waiting for permission from abroad. We need to back our own, like McClure backs hers.
Will Vicky McClure ever do a West End show?
When asked about a potential West End run, McClure said she does not rule anything out. It is a roll of the dice. But her heart remains in Nottingham, and her fight remains with the working-class voices she champions.
For Zambia, the lesson is clear: stay loyal to your own, fight for your own stories, and do not let foreign gatekeepers decide what is worthy of the screen. As McClure proves, you can be a star and still refuse to sell out.
Photo: Yahoo!