Funny Woman

Funny Woman is a six-part British television drama series directed by Oliver Parker and adapted for the screen by Morwenna Banks from the best-selling novel Funny Girl by Nick Hornby. It stars Gemma Arterton with an ensemble cast including Tom Bateman, David Threlfall, and Rupert Everett. The first series began airing on Sky Max on 9 February 2023 with all six episodes available on Now. In August, it was renewed for a second series. Synopsis The series follows Barbara Parker (stage name Sophie Straw), a Blackpool beauty queen who becomes a comedy star in the male-dominated sitcom industry in 1960s London. Cast Reception 69% of critics reviews for Funny Woman are positive on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It received mixed reviews in the press on the grounds that the title caused some to believe it was intended as a comedy rather than a drama about a comedy actress. This led to reviews of a "mediocre" and "uneven" series. Meanwhile, Funny Woman received 3-, 4- and 5-star reviews from other reviewers, including The Guardian, who considered Arterton's performance "absolutely captivating", and The Independent, who felt "this show feels like a warm hug" with a "plucky, bold heroine". The Upcoming praised Arterton's "flirtatious, witty and charismatic" performance and considered Funny Woman "fast, fluid and incredibly clever".