Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire set to play iconic chef Julia Child for new HBO Max drama documenting her journey to food stardom

Sarah Lancashire is set to take on the role of French chef Julia Child for a new series on HBO Max.

The Happy Valley star, 56, will play the cook for an eight-part drama documenting her journey to stardom in the culinary world, including the birth of her famous series The French Chef.

It's not the first time Julia's story has been brought to the screen as Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe in 2009 for her performance in the film Julie and Julia.

The series, titled Julia, will be inspired by Child's life and her legacy introduction French cooking to the American public, according to Variety.

The series will also star David Hyde Pierce, Brittany Bradford, Fran Kranz, Fiona Glascott, Bebe Neuwirth, Isabella Rossellini, and Jefferson Mays. 

'We are so happy to help bring the incomparable Julia Child back to the small screen, when we need her more than ever,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content for HBO Max. 

'This show’s look into her life, marriage, and trailblazing career as she transformed the way we talk about food is an absolute delight. Our incredible cast and formidable creative team are a recipe for success, and we couldn’t be more excited.'

Chris Keyser, who previously worked on Netflix's The Society and the primetime soap opera Party Of Five, will act as showrunner and executive producer.

Todd Schulkin will act as a consulting producer on behalf of The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts.

Sarah is most well-known for starring in BBC's Happy Valley, which earned her a BAFTA in 2017, as well as Last Tango in Halifax.

The actress also starred as Raquel Wolstenhulme in Coronation Street from 1991 to 1996. 

Child was renowned for her skills in French cooking and introducing new culinary delights to US viewers.

Alongside starring in 14 TV series and specials, she penned 18 cookbooks before she died in 2004 at the age of 91.

Meryl previously brought Julia to life in 2009 for the film Julie and Julia, which juxtaposed the chef's life in the 1950s with blogger Julie Powell, who famously cooked all 524 recipes in Child's first cookbook over 365 days.

The film was praised by critics and earned Meryl a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.