The Last Anniversary: A Hilarious and Provocative Feast of Exceptional Acting

Here’s to the women of a certain age. Let’s celebrate them!
Nicole Kidman
‘S “invincible” former husband appears to defy gravity in the final part.
Mission Impossible
movie, the actor and producer continues her quest to champion Liane Moriarty, the best-selling Australian author whose zesty and complex dialogue offers such fabulous opportunities for actresses over 40 – as showcased in
Big Little Lies,
Nine Perfect Strangers
, and now
The Last Anniversary
on BBC One.

True,
the second series of
Big Little Lies
was only sporadically holding attention and, as for season two,
Nine Perfect Strangers
Is filled with nonsense and feels tedious. However, this new six-part series isn’t just exploiting an established franchise; it’s establishing a new one. Produced by Kidman’s company, Blossom Films, based on a 2005 novel by Moriarty, the adaptation is intellectually stimulating, amusing, and superbly acted. Although Kidman doesn’t have a role in it, the screenplay offers rich parts for veteran British actress Miranda Richardson at age 67 and Australian star Helen Thomson at 57.

Thomson is the show’s secret weapon; even if you’ve encountered her as Lynelle, in
prize-winning romcom
Colin from Accounts
If you’re familiar with her work, you’ll already recognize her as a genius. In this role, Thomson portrays another outrageously sulking yet perky matron who, completely unaware of the terror she instills in her psychologically wounded adult daughter, acts like she might be a top contender for Parent of the Year. The key distinction between Lynelle and Enigma—the delusional diva played by Thomson—is that Enigma takes center stage within the storyline. That said, summarizing the plot isn’t an easy task.

In Sydney, Teresa Palmer plays Sophie, an orphaned journalist who finds out that Connie — the deceased grandmother of her former partner, Thomas (bear with me here!) — has bequeathed her a large house situated in a stunning yet isolated spot. Upon arriving at the fictitious Scribbly Gum Island, Sophie begins searching for romance while simultaneously trying to unravel a 50-year-old enigma involving a vanished couple, an abandoned infant, and two sisters—one being the young Connie. This unsolved puzzle continues to attract visitors and sustain the local economy under the name “Enigma.” Halfway into a meticulously arranged guided tour, she enthusiastically announces, “The little child you hear about? That was me! I am Enigma Munro.”

Enigma’s expanded clan is impressively vast. Included among them are Connie’s younger sibling Rose (played by Richardson), Connie’s offspring Margie (portrayed by Susan Prior), her spouse Ron (acted by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), their granddaughter Veronika (interpreted by Danielle Macdonald), as well as the previously mentioned Thomas (embodied by Charlie Garber) who has tied the knot and become a father. We also can’t overlook Enigma’s daughter Grace (characterized by Claude Scott-Mitchell), along with Grace’s partner Callum (brought to life by Uli Latukefu), and their newborn named Ollie. Fortunately, every single exchange involving Enigma and these individuals proves delightful. Similar to how Jennifer Coolidge embodies the character of Tanya in
The White Lotus
Enigma is a natural phenomenon; she manages to be charmingly over-the-top without crossing into absurdity. One of my all-time favorite exchanges goes like this:
Enigma: “Am I a bad mother?”
Rose: “Have some soup!”
Enigma: “So that’s a yes? It’s definitely a yes?”

As the enigmatic Rose, Richardson brings a lot to the shadowy comedic atmosphere. After focusing mainly on voice acting recently, this renowned actress contributes significantly with her talent.
Dance with a Stranger
and
Blackadder II
manages to showcase her remarkable versatility (ranging from elflike or mischievous to devastating or devastated). In this work, several of the strongest moments rely solely on the camera attempting to capture her expressions. Her face conveys disdain, irritation, bleak acceptance—dramatic changes in emotion communicated through subtlest facial movements. During the initial four episodes, Richardson might have an absurdly ornate wig. It must also have been challenging for her as the sole non-Australian actor in the ensemble (her portrayal of Rose’s Aussie accent feels precarious at times yet she manages to hold onto it convincingly enough). Regardless, nothing hinders her stripped-down, unvarnished performance style. One can almost feel Rose’s despondency.

Chronic sadness serves as a central motif, with Grace’s struggles through postpartum depression portrayed sensitively by lead writer Samantha Strauss. Despite appearing outwardly calm and accomplished as an artist, Grace experiences disruptive intrusions of thought that disrupt the narrative much like explosions and strain her connection with Sophie—who herself faces numerous challenges. Sophie endures frequent disdain due to her decision not to marry or have children by the time she reaches 39. She encounters two distinctly harmful individuals who dismiss her status using phrases such as “a woman of a certain age.” In one particularly uncomfortable scene at a dinner gathering, another character accuses her of engaging in “sperm entrapment.”

It’s invigorating that rather than setting up competition between Grace and Sophie or turning them into inseparable friends, the screenplay depicts them cautiously navigating their interactions without getting too close. Although the more mature characters leave a lasting impact, you’ll find it easy to cheer for the younger protagonists as well—such as Veronika—who is preoccupied with creating a trendsetting podcast.
What Kind of Mother
, is a hoot.

What you won’t find here is subtle sophistication (if that’s what you’re into, check out the brilliant family drama).
Asura
Things frequently become absurd.
Really
funny, although primarily in a playful manner, which makes it quite enjoyable to follow along. Fundamentally,
The Last Anniversary
is a re-telling of
Through a Glass Darkly
, for fans of
Mamma Mia!
Trauma set on an island comes with vibrant colors, humor, and a challenging mother figure rather than a tough father. Just like always with Moriarty, some things remain undisclosed. Nicole Kidman, hats off to you for taking on this role. Carry on excellently as you have been doing.

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