Mia McKenna-Bruce Reveals the Challenge of Portraying Maureen Starkey

Mia McKenna-Bruce has spoken candidly about taking on the role of Maureen Starkey in the forthcoming Beatles biopics. In a recent conversation with the Sunday Times, she discussed what it’s been like to embody Ringo Starr’s first wife for Sam Mendes’s ambitious four-part film project, set to arrive in cinemas in 2028.

Currently appearing in Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials on Netflix, McKenna-Bruce described a mix of nerves and excitement as she delved into the life of Starkey. Although she hasn’t yet crossed paths with Starr or his family—

“they have all been on set, just not when I’ve been there,”

—she’s managed to gather plenty of insight into the woman she’s portraying. One description, in particular, stuck with her:

“Someone described her as the person who, if she went to a party, would be the one that would go up to the person who was on their own. She had a huge heart.”

Stepping Into Maureen’s World

Starkey married Starr at just 18, back in 1965, and soon after welcomed their son Zak. The family later grew to include Jason and Lee, but the marriage ended in 1975. Throughout those years, Starkey maintained close friendships with Cynthia Lennon and Pattie Boyd—Aimee Lou Wood is set to play Boyd in the films.

Reflecting on the process, McKenna-Bruce admitted to feeling a bit out of her depth at first. In a separate chat with Stylist, she confessed,

“When we started, I thought, ‘I’m way out of my depth’.”

The scale of the project and the responsibility of telling such a well-known story left her with a sense of disbelief:

“To get to be involved in telling this story… it’s a proper ‘pinch me’.”

Navigating Nerves and Expectations

Imposter syndrome, she said, has been a companion throughout filming.

“I have to accept that I’m going to feel imposter syndrome – look at what we’re doing! But that’s OK – when I tell myself not to feel like that, that’s when I spiral.”

Despite these doubts, she’s found ways to ground herself in the role, drawing on the stories and impressions she’s gathered about Starkey’s warmth and generosity.

Meanwhile, although McKenna-Bruce hasn’t yet met the family, there’s been positive feedback from those closest to the story. Over the weekend, Zak Starkey, Ringo’s son, revealed that his father had visited the set and was thoroughly impressed by what he saw. According to Zak,

“My dad said that he went to the set and that it was amazing. It really blew him away. He was pretty impressed with what he saw.”

Anticipation Builds for the Biopics

With Barry Keoghan taking on the role of Ringo Starr, and a cast that includes Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd, anticipation for the films continues to grow. For McKenna-Bruce, the experience has been both daunting and exhilarating—a chance to step into the shoes of a woman remembered for her kindness, all while navigating the pressures of a major cinematic event.