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| “ | Felicity: Oh, is Johnny not coming? Amanda: Well, no. I mean, who'd look after the kids? Felicity: Oh, that is a shame. Amanda: Also, we're getting a divorce, Mum. Felicity: Yes, I keep forgetting. Poor Johnny. |
„ |
| ~ Felicity disregarding her daughter's divorce and showing her preference of her husband. |
Felicity Sanderson is a supporting antagonist in the 2016 BBC series Motherland and its 2025 spin off Amandaland.
She is the narcissistic, vain mother of Amanda Hughes who lives vicariously through her daughter's life and constantly devalues her.
She is portrayed by Dame Joanna Lumley, who also portrayed Aunt Spiker in James and the Giant Peach, Countess Chandra in Curse of the Pink Panther, Evita in The Foxbusters and Maudeline Everglot in Corpse Bride.
Physical appearance[]
Felicity is frequently well-dressed. She has medium-length grey hair and tries hard to maintain her looks. She often wears dark lipstick. She is described as being a "handsome woman" and is likened to
Personality[]
Felicity is egotistical and cares about superficial appearances. She frequently degrades her daughter, Amanda Hughes, in order to validate her own self. She was an absent mother and obsesses over finding flaws in her daughter's life (who has a stereotypical "perfect" life). Amanda is cutting in her speech, often complaining about most things such as where she is, what other people look like, or how they irritate her. She is seemingly never content. She is suggested to have alcoholic tendencies.
Biography[]
Background[]
Felicity is a former model, and had a child with an unknown man. She divorced, and was able to keep the house she owned. She had Amanda privately educated. Her husband had multiple other marriages. Felicity struggled after her marriage to find love again. At one point in her life, Felicity used to smuggle cannabis resin from Spain.
Motherland[]
Felicity is first seen on Mother's Day, where Amanda had tried to book a riverside café for the pair, but is left with a high-street café instead. Amanda is aware this would disappoint her mother (which it does), but tries to make up for it. Felicity questions if Johnny, Amanda's ex-husband is joining them, and is disappointed when she learns he is not due to Amanda and his ongoing divorce.
At lunch, Felicity takes every opportunity to put down Amanda and encourages her to stop the divorce. Felicity also takes limited interest in her grandchildren's life. At Christmas, Felicity arrives before Amanda to Johnny and his new partner, Tamara's, new house in Isleworth. There, she purchases the children excessively formal clothing and again tries to put down Amanda in front of Tamara and Johnny. She shows clear approval and admiration for Tamara which upsets Amanda whom she dimisses most of the day.
Amanda ultimately confronts her mother on their relationship, which Felicity callously denies any wrongdoing for. Their relationship seemingly is over at this point.
Amandaland[]
After Amanda moves to South Harlesden, Felicity becomes more involved in her daughter and grandchildren's lives. Amanda had arranged for a carer, Joy, to look after Felicity to gain some more time, which Felicity detests and spends most her time avoiding her and referring to Joy as her personal assistnat.
Felicity becomes overly involved in Amanda's life, clearly believing she is having a midlife crisis, and refuses to support her grandchildren effectively, encouraging them to avoid their studies and focus on superficiality. She becomes the voice of the older generation who fails to understand the importance of education.
Felicity later moves in with Amanda whilst her garage is renovated to a sauna, and begins to disrupt Amanda's routine. Believing Felicity is dating someone, Amanda hides a tracking device and follows her mother. She instead learns that Felicity is visiting her ex-husband who has dementia in a caring home. Amanda confronts Felicity, who reveals that she has taken pity on him and that none of his other wives visit him.
Felicity continues to encourage Amanda to find new love, and is impressed when she meets wealthy property tycoon Johannes. However, when Amanda reveals that she intends to move to Wapping (the other side of London), Felicity appears for once to be upset, wanting to stay close with her daughter. When Amanda and Johannes' relationship breaks down and she decides to stay in South Harleseden, Felicity and Amanda reconcile their troubles in their past and embrace one another.
Quotes[]
| “ | Let me in, it smells like buses! | „ |
| ~ Felicity to her granddaughter, Georgie. |
| “ | The curse of the Selfridge's sales! | „ |
| ~ Felicity putting down her daughter, Amanda, and Tamara, Amanda's ex-husband's new partner after they both wear the same dress at Christmas. |
| “ | Darling, let me in before I get mugged. | „ |
| ~ Felicity to her daughter, Amanda. |
| “ | I'm sorry, darling, I totally forgot! | „ |
| ~ Felicity after showing up late to her mother's day plans with her daughter. |