Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney are starring in Onwards and Sideways, a BBC film directed by John Madden set in Norfolk that explores the lives of two fiftysomething characters grappling with Parkinson’s disease. The project marks the actors’ first collaboration, though they skipped a traditional chemistry read before production began. Instead, both emphasized an immediate sense of safety and connection, with Ifans noting that despite not knowing personal details about Linney’s life, “we both know how we feel about death and dying.”
To authentically portray their characters, both actors engaged in specialized preparation. Linney participated in Dance for PD classes at the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn and attended sessions at her alma mater Juilliard, observing how dance and music provide therapeutic benefits for people managing the condition’s symptoms. Ifans attended weekly dance sessions in Bangor, Wales, accompanied by a harpist and a sheepdog, experiences he described as inspiring and equalizing, bringing together people from different backgrounds united by their Parkinson’s diagnosis.
The film was written by Paul Mayhew-Archer, an actor and writer who co-created The Vicar of Dibley and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 58. His personal experiences directly informed the script, bringing both humor and emotional honesty to the narrative. Ifans plays Tony, a teacher, while Linney plays Emma, a musician, as they navigate the complexities of living with the neurological condition. According to Parkinson’s UK, approximately 166,000 people in the UK live with the disease, with one person being diagnosed every 20 minutes.
Both actors emphasized the project’s approach of combining comedy with serious subject matter. Mayhew-Archer explained his philosophy of addressing the diagnosis with humor rather than gravity, citing how a joke about difficulty smiling became central to the film’s tone. Linney reflected on the moving nature of how arts programs help people with Parkinson’s, noting how movement and creativity can open possibilities when the body is fighting against involuntary symptoms like shaking and freezing.
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