Frances Barber

Biography

Frances Barber (née Brookes, born 13 May 1958) is an English actress. She received Olivier Award nominations for her work in the plays Camille (1985), and Uncle Vanya (1997). Her film appearances include three collaborations with Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears (1987), We Think the World of You (1988) and Dead Fish (2005); as well as Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987); Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992); and latterly Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017). Barber's numerous television credits include The Street (2009), Doctor Who (2011), Silk (2012–2014), and Whitstable Pearl (2021–2022).

Known For

Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

Doctor Who

Doctor Who

Death in Paradise

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Casualty

All Movies (85)

• MUSIK2026
• A Hand to Hold2026 · as Moira
• The Secret Santa Project2025 · as Carol
• The People Before2025
• Hamlet2024 · as First Player / Player Queen / Second Clown
• A Bird Flew In2022 · as Marie
• A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Mezzotint2021 · as Mrs Ambrigail
• Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of Squirrel2021 · as Self
• Trick or Treat2019 · as Miss Ferguson
• The Queen and I2018 · as Princess Margaret
• Blue Iguana2018 · as Princess
• An Ideal Husband2018 · as Mrs. Cheveley
• McKellen: Playing the Part2018
• The Escape2018 · as Alison
• Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool2017 · as Joy
• The Bookshop2017 · as Jessie Welford
• The Chosen2016 · as Natalia Sedova
• Mr. Holmes2015 · as Matinee "Madame Schirmer"
• Bucky2014 · as Miss Eversham
• The IT Crowd Manual2014 · as Self
• Bad Education: Christmas Special2013 · as Alfie's Mum
• Muse of Fire2013 · as Self
• May I Kill U?2013 · as Bernice
• We'll Take Manhattan2012 · as Diana Vreeland
• The Fattest Man in Britain2009 · as Janice
• King Lear2008 · as Goneril
• Goal II: Living the Dream2007 · as Carol Harmison
• Dead Fish2005 · as S & M Prostitute
• Goal!2005 · as Carol Harmison
• His Passionate Bride2005 · as Narrator (voice)
• Evilenko2004 · as Fenja Evilenka
• The Legend of the Tamworth Two2004 · as Miss Piggy (voice)
• Listening2003 · as Woman
• Boudica2003 · as Agrippina
• Flyfishing2003 · as Frances
• The Red Siren2002 · as Eva
• Superstition2001 · as Isabella Flores
• The Gentleman Thief2001 · as Julia Sinclair
• Esther Kahn2000 · as Rivka Kahn
• Shiner2000 · as Georgie
• The Escort1999 · as Jessica
• Plastic Man1999 · as Louise Ferman
• Toy Boys1999 · as Mrs. Chambers
• Still Crazy1998 · as Lady in Black
• Just in Time1998
• Tea1998 · as Woman
• A Royal Scandal1997 · as Lady Jersey
• Photographing Fairies1997 · as Beatrice Templeton
• Circles of Deceit: Sleeping Dogs1996 · as Annie Shepherd
• It Might Be You1995 · as Wendy
• Aristophanes: The Gods Are Laughing1995 · as Adonia
• Rik Mayall Presents: Dirty Old Town1995 · as Sally Denton
• 3 Steps to Heaven1995 · as Andrea Wallis
• Scarborough Ahoy!1994 · as Maria
• Giorgino1994 · as Marie
• Deep in My Heart - Germaine and Benjamin1994 · as Anna Lindsay
• In The Cold Light Of Day1994 · as Mother
• Return to Blood River1994 · as Karen
• Fish Tale1994 · as Helen Wormsley
• Thatcherworld1993 · as Penny Jenkins
• A Statement of Affairs1993 · as Pip
• Soft Top Hard Shoulder1993 · as Miss Trumble
• The Leaving of Liverpool1992 · as Ellen, Lil's Mother
• Hancock1991 · as Freddie Hancock
• Young Soul Rebels1991 · as Ann
• Secret Friends1991 · as Angela
• Do Not Disturb1991 · as Jenny
• The Grasscutter1990 · as Claire Deeds
• Separate Bedrooms1989 · as Gert
• Twelfth Night, or What You Will1988 · as Viola / Cesario
• We Think the World of You1988 · as Megan
• Duck1988
• Sammy and Rosie Get Laid1987 · as Rosie
• Prick Up Your Ears1987 · as Leonie Orton
• Castaway1986 · as Sister Saint Winifred
• A Zed & Two Noughts1985 · as Venus de Milo
• White City1985 · as Alice
• Hard Feelings1984 · as Viv
• A Flame to the Phoenix1983 · as Wanda Grabinska
• Those Glory Glory Days1983 · as Woman
• Acceptable Levels1983 · as Jill
• The Missionary1982 · as Mission Girl
• Home Sweet Home1982 · as Melody
• From London with Love—
• The State of Us— · as Joan

All TV Shows (83)

• Dreamland2023 · as Cheryl
• The Chelsea Detective2022 · as Olivia Arnold
• Whitstable Pearl2021 · as Dolly Nolan
• Semi-Detached2020 · as Patricia
• Queens of Mystery2019 · as Viv Collins
• Let's Talk About Sex2019 · as Narrator
• Summer Comedy Shorts2017 · as Mum
• The Rebel2016 · as Angela
• Mapp and Lucia2014 · as Amelia, Contessa di Faraglione
• Inside No. 92014 · as Lesley
• Psychobitches2013 · as Bette Davis
• Psychobitches2013 · as Doris Stokes
• Psychobitches2013 · as Catherine the Great
• Psychobitches2013 · as Elizabeth I
• Psychobitches2013 · as St Catherine
• Psychobitches2013 · as Whistler's Mother
• Psychobitches2013 · as Thora Hind
• Psychobitches2013 · as Josephine-Joseph
• Psychobitches2013 · as Barbara Cartland
• The Spa2013 · as Ginny
• Father Brown2013 · as Davina Malmort
• Playhouse Presents2012 · as Bette Davis
• Playhouse Presents2012 · as Doris Stokes
• Playhouse Presents2012 · as Catherine the Great
• Great Expectations2011 · as Mrs. Brandley
• Death in Paradise2011 · as Diana Watson
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip2011 · as Self - Participant
• Friday Night Dinner2011 · as Sheila Bloom
• Silk2011 · as Caroline Warwick QC
• The Nativity2010 · as Elizabeth
• Vexed2010 · as Pat Poynter
• Pete versus Life2010
• Law & Order: UK2009
• Bremner, Bird and Fortune: Silly Money2008 · as Dinner Guest
• Beautiful People2008 · as Miss Prentice
• Benidorm2007 · as Daisy
• The Street2006
• The IT Crowd2006 · as Doctor Mendall
• Hotel Babylon2006
• Funland2005 · as Connie Woolf
• Doctor Who2005 · as Madame Kovarian
• Doctor Who2005 · as Eye Patch Lady
• Agatha Christie's Marple2004 · as Lizzie Hinchcliffe
• Hustle2004 · as Clarissa
• New Tricks2004
• Monkey Dust2003 · as (voice)
• Celeb2002
• Having It Off2002
• Love in a Cold Climate2001 · as The Bolter
• Bremner, Bird and Fortune1999
• Plastic Man1999 · as Louise Ferman
• Gimme Gimme Gimme1999 · as Janine
• Ruby1997 · as Self
• The Ice House1997 · as Diana Goode
• Midsomer Murders1997 · as Ingrid Lockston
• Midsomer Murders1997 · as Constance Fielding
• Rhodes1996 · as Princess Catherine Radziwill
• Dalziel and Pascoe1996 · as Amanda 'Cap' Marvell
• Space Precinct1994 · as Erika Brandt
• Rik Mayall Presents1993 · as Sally Denton
• Chef1993 · as Anita Lawrence
• The Leaving of Liverpool1992
• The Storyteller: Greek Myths1991 · as Medusa
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Gloria Twigge
• The Orchid House1991 · as Joan
• The Nightmare Years1989 · as Helga Bauer
• Screen One1989 · as Freddie Hancock
• Behaving Badly1989
• Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · as Lady Millicent
• Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · as Merlina Rival
• Red Dwarf1988 · as Genny
• The Modern World: Ten Great Writers1988 · as Winnie Verloc
• Inspector Morse1987 · as Nicole Burgess
• Casualty1986 · as Nancy
• Screen Two1985 · as Jenny Coldfield
• Screen Two1985 · as Karen
• Screen Two1985 · as Mother
• Reilly: Ace of Spies1983 · as Dagmara
• Timewatch1982 · as Annie Besant
• An Audience with...1978 · as Self
• A Ghost Story for Christmas1971 · as Mrs Ambrigail
• Play for Today1970 · as Melody
• Omnibus1967