Lorraine Ashbourne (born 7 January 1961) is an English actress.

Lorraine Ashbourne
Colour photograph of Lorraine Asbourne. She is looking into the camera, smiling. She is wearing a black dress.
Ashbourne in 2013
Born (1961-01-07) 7 January 1961 (age 63)
Manchester, England
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present
Spouse
(m. 2002)
Children3, including Ruby and Louis

Early life

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Ashbourne was born 7 January 1961,[1] in Manchester, England.[2] She attended Wilbraham High School, when living in Fallowfield.[3] She joined Stretford Children's Theatre.[4] She took part in the University of Manchester Stage Society and Manchester Youth Theatre.[5] She joined the Webber Drama School on 19 April 1982.[1]

Career

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Ashbourne has appeared on British series and television films, including: Playing the Field (1998), Unforgotten (2017),[6] Grantchester (2017),[6] Maigret in Montmartre (2017),[6] Midsomer Murders (2018),[6] The Street,[6] and Jericho.[6]

As a stage actor, Lorraine regularly appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, portraying roles such as Kate Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer and Emilia in Othello, acting in both of these alongside her husband Andy Serkis.

In 2019, she starred as Barbara Castle in The Crown (2019),[1] and from 2020, she starred as Mrs. Varley in Bridgerton.[2] She played Joan Nuthall in Alma's Not Normal (2020),[1] and was Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood (2022).[2] She played Karen in I Hate Suzie (2024), and appeared in After the Flood (2024).[1]

Personal life

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In 1987, her boyfriend was actor Glyn Pritchard, who played chef Paul on Crossroads.[7] She has been the partner of actor Andy Serkis from at least 1993, and had toured in a production in 1991,[8] living in Hackney.[9]

On 22 July 2002, Ashbourne married Serkis.[10] Their three children include Ruby and Louis.[1]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role
1988 Distant Voices, Still Lives Maisie Davies
The Dressmaker Factory Girl
1989 Resurrected Reeva
1995 Jack and Sarah Jackie
1997 Fever Pitch Mrs. Ashworth
2001 The Martins Lil
2005 King Kong Theatre Actor #3
2008 A Bunch of Amateurs Jane Jarvis
2010 Oranges and Sunshine Nicky
Thorne: Scaredycat Ruth Brigstocke
2013 The Selfish Giant Mary
2015 Child 44 Anna
2016 Adult Life Skills Marion
2017 Breathe First Woman
2019 Blinded by the Light Kathy
The Corrupted Pam Cullen
2022 I Used to Be Famous Cheryl
2024 Hitpig! Big Bertha (voice)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Bill Tracy "Brownie Points"
Casualty Sandy "Cry for Help"
1988 London's Burning Sue "1.2"
1989 Boon Judy "Big Game Hunt"
1990 The Bill Maria "Something Special"
1991 Rich Tea and Sympathy Karen Rudge TV series
1993 Mr. Wroe's Virgins Anne "Leah's Story"
Fighting for Gemma Susan D'Arcy TV film
1994 The Bill Jenny Longden "He Who Waits"
In Suspicious Circumstances Ann Bailey "Absence of Mercy"
Casualty Teresa England "Relations"
Three Seven Eleven Sylvia Powers "2.2", "2.3"
1995 Pie in the Sky Maeve Cormack "The Mild Bunch"
Chiller Susan Taylor "Number Six"
Peak Practice Tina Greaves "Life and Soul", "Other Lives"
1996 The Bill Shirley Briggs "Too Close for Comfort"
1998–2000 City Central Sgt. Yvonne Mackey Main role
1998–2002 Playing the Field Geraldine Powell Main role
2000 A Christmas Carol Sue Cratchett TV film
2001 In a Land of Plenty Edna TV series
2002 Clocking Off Sally Preston "Alan's Story"
2003 Love Again Betty Mackereth TV film
The Eustace Bros. Anna Goodman "1.3"
2006 Thin Ice Eileen TV miniseries
Jane Eyre Mrs. Fairfax TV miniseries
Housewife, 49 Dot TV film
2007 True Dare Kiss Beth Sweeney Main role
The Street Cath Hanley Episode: "Demolition", "Taxi"
2009 Lark Rise to Candleford Lilly Spicer "Episode 2.3"
Law & Order: UK Maureen Walters Episode: "Care"
Murderland Rachel TV miniseries
Victoria Wood's Mid Life Christmas Catheter Finch TV film
2010 Moving On Treena Episode: "I am Darleen Fyles"
Thorne Ruth Brigstocke Episode: "Sleepyhead", "Scaredycat"
Little Crackers Miss Meadowcroft "Victoria Wood's Little Cracker: The Giddy Kipper"
2011 Coming Up Linda Episode: "Rough Skin"
2012 New Tricks Moira Wright Episode: "Body of Evidence"
Public Enemies Marion Sharmer TV miniseries
The Syndicate June Juniper "Episode 1.3"
Homefront Cheryl Davies TV miniseries
2014 Silent Witness DI Rachel Klein "Coup de Grace: Parts 1 & 2"
2015 Inside No. 9 Carol Episode: "Nana's Party"
The Interceptor Valerie Main role
New Tricks Vicky Collins Episode: "The Crazy Gang"
London Spy Mrs. Turner TV miniseries
2016 Jericho Lace Polly Main role
2017 Unforgotten DI Tessa Nixon Main role (Series 2)
Grantchester Cora Maguire "3.5"
Maigret in Montmartre Rosa Alfonsi TV film
2018 Midsomer Murders Daniella Bellini "Send in the Clowns"
2019 The Crown Barbara Castle 6 episodes
2020–present Bridgerton Mrs. Varley Regular role
2020–present Alma's Not Normal Joan Nuthall 6 episodes
2022 Sherwood Daphne Sparrow 6 episodes
I Hate Suzie Karen 4 episodes
2024 After the Flood Molly Marshall 6 episodes
TBC Riot Women Jess Upcoming drama[11]

Stage work

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Ashbourne's roles in the theatre include[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Arabella Horspool (30 August 2024). "Lorraine Ashbourne's Best TV Shows and Famous Husnband". yours.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Lorraine Ashbourne". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  3. ^ Manchester Evening News Friday 16 April 1982, page 6
  4. ^ Manchester Evening News Thursday 21 December 1989, page 23
  5. ^ Manchester Evening News Friday 29 January 1982, page 14
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Lorraine Ashbourne Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  7. ^ Manchester Evening News Thursday 26 February 1987, page 40
  8. ^ Manchester Evening News Tuesday 11 May 1993, page 8
  9. ^ Manchester Evening News Tuesday 22 November 1994, page 25
  10. ^ "Gollum's precious moments: Andy Serkis' unexpected journey from The Lord of the Rings to The Hobbit". The Independent. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Riot Women - cast announced for Sally Wainwright's new drama". bbc.com/mediacentre. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ Murray, Braham (2007). The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster. London: Methuen Drama. ISBN 978-0-7136-8490-2.
  13. ^ The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976-1998, 1998, ISBN 0-9512017-1-9
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