Mildred Pierce (2011)
An Emmy-sweeping HBO miniseries in which Kate Winslet delivers a towering performance as a Depression-era mother who sacrifices everything for a daughter who gives nothing back.
Mildred Pierce - Series Information
- Original Title: Mildred Pierce
- First Air Year: 2011
- Last Air Year: 2011
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 5
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: March 27, 2011 (United States - TV-MA), March 27, 2011 (Canada - G), March 27, 2011 (Germany - 18), March 27, 2011 (France - 18), March 27, 2011 (India - U/A 16+), March 27, 2011 (Australia - MA 15+), March 27, 2011 (Brazil - 14), March 27, 2011 (Mexico - B), March 27, 2011 (Spain - 16), March 27, 2011 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: HBO
- Production Companies: John Wells Productions, HBO, Killer Films, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: 欲海情魔 (CN), Prosdokies (GR), ミルドレッド・ピアース しあわせのだいしょう (JP)
Mildred Pierce - Plot
Mildred Pierce depicts an overprotective, self-sacrificing mother during the Great Depression who finds herself separated from her husband, opening a restaurant of her own and falling in love with a man, all the while trying to earn her spoiled, narcissistic daughter's love and respect.
Mildred Pierce - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Kate Winslet bring Mildred Pierce to life:
Having it all would cost her everything.
Where to Watch Mildred Pierce
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Mildred Pierce - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Kate Winslet
- Guy Pearce
- Evan Rachel Wood
- Brían F. O'Byrne
- Melissa Leo
- James Le Gros
- Mare Winningham
- Marin Ireland
- Murphy Guyer
- Morgan Turner
Executive Producers
- Todd Haynes
- Pamela Koffler
- Christine Vachon
- John Wells
Mildred Pierce - FAQs
Is Mildred Pierce based on a true story?
Mildred Pierce is not based on a true story, but it is a faithful adaptation of James M. Cain's 1941 noir novel of the same name. Director Todd Haynes and screenwriter Jon Raymond stayed closer to the source material than the classic 1945 Joan Crawford film, restoring the novel's Depression-era detail and emotional complexity.
Did Kate Winslet win awards for Mildred Pierce?
Kate Winslet won the Emmy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of Mildred Pierce — a rare sweep of all three major television acting prizes. The miniseries itself earned five Emmy Awards in 2011, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.
How does Mildred Pierce differ from the 1945 film?
Unlike the 1945 Joan Crawford film, Todd Haynes's version removes the murder-mystery framing device and returns to James M. Cain's original novel structure. The result is a slower, more intimate character study that lingers on Mildred's economic struggle, maternal obsession, and romantic entanglements with far greater fidelity to the source.
Is Mildred Pierce worth watching?
Absolutely. Mildred Pierce earned near-universal critical acclaim, with reviewers praising Todd Haynes's meticulous period direction, Edward Lachman's stunning cinematography, and Kate Winslet's career-best performance. It holds a 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely considered one of the finest prestige miniseries HBO has ever produced.
Where can you stream Mildred Pierce?
Mildred Pierce is available to stream on HBO Max and through the HBO Max Amazon Channel. If you prefer to own it, episodes can be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
What role does Evan Rachel Wood play in Mildred Pierce?
Evan Rachel Wood plays the older version of Veda Pierce, Mildred's ruthlessly ambitious and emotionally manipulative daughter. Wood's portrayal of Veda as an adult — cold, calculating, and hungry for social elevation — earned her an Emmy nomination and stands as one of the most compelling antagonist performances in the miniseries.
Who directed the Mildred Pierce miniseries?
Todd Haynes directed all five episodes of the miniseries. Known for visually rich, emotionally layered films like Far from Heaven and Carol, Haynes brought his signature attention to period detail and female interiority to Mildred Pierce, crafting a slow-burn portrait of Depression-era womanhood that feels both cinematic and deeply personal.
What are some shows similar to Mildred Pierce?
If Mildred Pierce resonated with you, Patrick Melrose (2018) offers similarly prestige-level HBO drama with a towering central performance. Great Expectations (2011) shares the period literary adaptation DNA, while Tales of the City (1993) delivers comparable emotional depth and complex female characters across a serialized format.
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