Lorraine Ashbourne
Biography
Lorraine Ashbourne (born 1961 in Manchester) is an English stage, film and television actress. She attended Wilbraham High School, when living in Fallowfield. She joined Stretford Children's Theatre. She took part in the University of Manchester Stage Society and Manchester Youth Theatre. She joined the Webber Drama School on 19 April 1982. Ashbourne has appeared on British series and television films, including: Playing the Field (1998), Unforgotten (2017), Grantchester (2017), Maigret in Montmartre (2017), Midsomer Murders (2018), The Street, and Jericho. 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), and from 2020, she starred as Mrs. Varley in Bridgerton. She played Joan Nuthall in Alma's Not Normal (2020), and was Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood (2022). She played Karen in I Hate Suzie (2024), and appeared in After the Flood (2024)
Known For
All Movies (34)
- The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim2024 · as Olwyn (voice)
- Hitpig!2024 · as Big Bertha (voice)
- National Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down2024 · as Aunty Carol
- Allelujah2023 · as Mrs Earnshaw
- I Used to Be Famous2022 · as Cheryl
- A Christmas Carol2020 · as Mrs Cratchit (voice)
- No Masks2020
- The Bind2019 · as Ruth
- Blinded by the Light2019 · as Kathy
- The Queen and I2018 · as Violet
- Breathe2017 · as First Woman
- A Street Cat Named Bob2016 · as Local Housing Officer
- Adult Life Skills2016 · as Marion
- Bunny and Clive2016 · as Bunny
- Child 442015 · as Anna
- Emotional Fusebox2014 · as Marion
- The Selfish Giant2013 · as Mary
- Thorne: Scaredycat2010 · as Ruth Brigstocke
- Oranges and Sunshine2010 · as Nicky
- Victoria Wood: What Larks! Or... What I Did on My Holidays2009 · as Athlete
- Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas2009
- A Bunch of Amateurs2008 · as Jane Jarvis
- Housewife, 492006 · as Dot
- King Kong2005 · as Theatre Actor
- The Martins2001 · as Lil
- A Christmas Carol2000 · as Sue Cratchett
- Fever Pitch1997 · as Paul's Mum
- Jack & Sarah1995 · as Jackie
- Number Six1995 · as Susan Taylor
- Fighting for Gemma1993
- Resurrected1989 · as Reeva
- The Dressmaker1988 · as Factory Girl
- Distant Voices, Still Lives1988 · as Maisie
- Twenty— · as Dianna
All TV Shows (38)
- Riot Women2025 · as Jess
- After the Flood2024 · as Molly Marshall
- Sherwood2022 · as Daphne Sparrow
- Bridgerton2020 · as Mrs. Varley
- I Hate Suzie2020 · as Karen
- Alma's Not Normal2020 · as Joan
- Cheat2019 · as Angela Shadley
- The Crown2016 · as Barbara Castle
- Jericho2016 · as Lace Polly
- London Spy2015 · as Mrs. Turner
- Unforgotten2015 · as DI Tessa Nixon
- The Interceptor2015 · as Valerie
- Happy Birthday BBC Two2014 · as Narrator
- Inside No. 92014 · as Carol
- Public Enemies2012 · as Marion Sharmer
- Vera2011 · as Barbara Tullman
- Little Crackers2010 · as Miss Meadowcroft
- Thorne2010 · as Ruth Brigstocke
- Murderland2009 · as Rachel
- Moving On2009 · as Treena
- Law & Order: UK2009
- Lark Rise to Candleford2008
- True Dare Kiss2007 · as Beth Sweeney
- Jane Eyre2006 · as Mrs. Fairfax
- New Tricks2004 · as Moira Wright
- City Central1998
- Playing the Field1998 · as Geraldine Powell
- Midsomer Murders1997 · as Daniella Bellini
- Silent Witness1996 · as Michelle Lafferty
- Chiller1995 · as Susan Taylor
- Pie in the Sky1994 · as Maeve Cormack
- Peak Practice1993 · as Tina Greaves
- Mr. Wroe's Virgins1993 · as Anne
- Rich Tea And Sympathy1991
- In Suspicious Circumstances1991 · as Ann Bailey
- Rafferty's Rules1987 · as Woman No. 1
- Casualty1986 · as Sandy
- The Bill1984