6 Best Peggy Ashcroft Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 4, 2026

Peggy Ashcroft was celebrated as one of the greatest classical stage actresses of her generation, and her rare film appearances remain among the most acclaimed of the era. A Passage to India exposes colonial tensions with an Englishwoman’s accusation, Madame Sousatzka forms an intense bond with a gifted young pianist, She’s Been Away adapts an elderly woman to the modern world after decades in an institution, and Secret Ceremony mistakes a prostitute for a dead woman’s mother. The Nun’s Story and The 39 Steps round out the list.

She's Been Away (1989)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Peggy Ashcroft stars in this British drama about an elderly woman released after decades in a mental institution who struggles to adapt to the modern world.

Directed by Peter Hall · 1h 43m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Madame Sousatzka (1988)

TMDB ★ 6.6

Peggy Ashcroft appears in this drama about a demanding, eccentric piano teacher who forms an intense bond with her gifted young student.

Directed by John Schlesinger · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Passage to India (1984)

TMDB ★ 7.4

Peggy Ashcroft features in this drama where an Englishwoman's accusation against an Indian doctor exposes deep colonial tensions.

Directed by David Lean · 2h 43m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Secret Ceremony (1968)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Peggy Ashcroft features in this psychological drama about a grieving prostitute mistaken for a dead woman's mother by her disturbed, wealthy daughter.

Directed by Joseph Losey · 1h 49m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Nun's Story (1959)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A devoted young woman's years as a nun test her faith against her own independent conscience.

Directed by Fred Zinnemann · 2h 31m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The 39 Steps (1935)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A man wrongly accused of murder goes on the run to expose a dangerous spy ring, with John Laurie in the cast.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 26m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Peggy Ashcroft Movies

She's Been Away (1989)

Madame Sousatzka (1988)

A Passage to India (1984)

Secret Ceremony (1968)

The Nun's Story (1959)

The 39 Steps (1935)

You might also like

6 Best Monastery and Convent Movies

6 Best Matthew Boulton Movies

6 Best Madeleine Carroll Movies

6 Best Mildred Dunnock Movies

6 Best John Laurie Movies

6 Best Dean Jagger Movies