The Sunday Times Culture – August 2, 2026

Summary

Samantha Morton says her role in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey felt "like being picked for the Olympics" in The Sunday Times Culture (2 August 2026) cover story, as she discusses playing the siren and the childhood in care that shaped her. Didi Conn reflects on how playing Frenchy in Grease changed her life, and a new Tom Holland blockbuster summer is reviewed. Books include a nightmare scenario about a lab toxin escape and the true stories of witch-hunting victims in the 1640s.

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The 2 August Culture leads with Morton's interview, covering her childhood in the care system, her rise to acting prominence and the physical and emotional demands of Nolan's Odyssey adaptation. The Film section reviews Tom Holland's Spider-Man summer blockbuster. Didi Conn (Grease's Frenchy) looks back at the film's legacy and her life after the pink jacket. The Arts team offers a guide to the best entertainment to download for holiday travel. Lindsey Mendick's art exhibition at the gallery is reviewed for its "wild inhibition" in shattering pottery conventions.

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Books are strong this week: the book of the week imagines a deadly toxin escaping from a lab; a history section covers the true stories of witch-hunting victims; and historical fiction asks whether Sebastian Wolff is the new Bernie Gunther. Making pop video history with David Bowie is featured on page 6. TV and radio listings round out the issue. A solid start to August with a standout Morton interview.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.4 · 'You can't be a bighead': Samantha Morton
Morton on why her role in The Odyssey felt like an Olympic honour, her childhood in care, and how those experiences shaped her acting career. She discusses Nolan's approach and the physical demands of playing a mythical creature. For any actor: Morton's route from care to Oscar nominations is the most instructive story in this issue.

▸ Arts

p.6 · Making pop video history with David Bowie
Behind-the-scenes feature on a classic Bowie music video shoot. Archival material and first-person recollection.

p.8 · Television: best entertainment to download for travel
Curated guide to series, films and podcasts for long journeys.

p.10 · Didi Conn: life after Grease
The actor who played Frenchy discusses how the 1978 film changed her life, her cast relationships and her current projects. She describes Stockard Channing as "aloof" and recalls clashing with the late Jeff Conaway.

▸ Critics

p.14 · Tom Holland: does Spider-Man stick the landing?
Review of Holland's latest blockbuster. The critic assesses whether the franchise still has momentum.

p.16 · Lindsey Mendick: shattering pottery conventions
Art review of Mendick's exhibition, praised for its wild, uninhibited approach to ceramic sculpture.

▸ Books

p.20 · Book of the Week: lab toxin nightmare
A thriller imagining a deadly toxin escaping from a research laboratory.

p.22 · History: victims of the witch-hunting craze of the 1640s
True stories of those accused and executed during the peak of English witch trials.

p.28 · Historical fiction: Sebastian Wolff
Asks whether the defective detective Sebastian Wolff is the new Bernie Gunther.

▸ Regulars

p.29 · TV & Radio Listings

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Editor's Take

The Samantha Morton interview is the standout — she is one of the few actors who can discuss childhood trauma without it feeling like a publicity narrative. The Didi Conn interview adds Grease fanservice with genuine behind-the-scenes detail. Weaknesses: the holiday download guide is thin — it lists titles without explaining why they're worth your time. The Tom Holland review is competent but the film is the same Spider-Man formula. The book selection is strong but the witch-hunting history piece deserved more space. Best for readers who want the Morton interview and strong book coverage.

Strengths
• Samantha Morton interview is genuinely moving and news-worthy
• Didi Conn Grease interview delivers unrehearsed behind-the-scenes stories
• Strong book selection across three genres

Weaknesses
• Holiday download guide is list content, not journalism
• Spider-Man review is competent but predictable
• Witch-hunting history piece compressed into too few pages

Verdict: Selective read — the Morton cover story is the draw; the rest is competent weekly culture coverage.