Lorraine Ashbourne
Born: 1961-01-07 in Manchester, England, UK
Known For: Acting
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)
Filmography
2025
- Riot Women as Jess
2024
- The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim as Olwyn (voice)
- Hitpig! as Big Bertha (voice)
- After the Flood as Molly Marshall
- National Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down as Aunty Carol
2023
- Allelujah as Mrs Earnshaw
2022
- Sherwood as Daphne Sparrow
- I Used to Be Famous as Cheryl
2020
- Bridgerton as Mrs. Varley
- No Masks
- A Christmas Carol as Mrs Cratchit (voice)
- I Hate Suzie as Karen
- Alma's Not Normal as Joan
2019
- Blinded by the Light as Kathy
- Cheat as Angela Shadley
- The Bind as Ruth
2018
- The Queen and I as Violet
2017
- Breathe as First Woman
2016
- The Crown as Barbara Castle
- A Street Cat Named Bob as Local Housing Officer
- Adult Life Skills as Marion
- Jericho as Lace Polly
- Bunny and Clive as Bunny
2015
- Unforgotten as DI Tessa Nixon
- Child 44 as Anna
- London Spy as Mrs. Turner
- The Interceptor as Valerie
2014
- Inside No. 9 as Carol
- Emotional Fusebox as Marion
- Happy Birthday BBC Two as Narrator
2013
- The Selfish Giant as Mary
2012
- Public Enemies as Marion Sharmer
2011
- Vera as Barbara Tullman
2010
- Little Crackers as Miss Meadowcroft
- Oranges and Sunshine as Nicky
- Thorne: Scaredycat as Ruth Brigstocke
2009
- Law & Order: UK
- Moving On as Treena
- Murderland as Rachel
- Victoria Wood: What Larks! Or... What I Did on My Holidays as Athlete
- Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas
2008
- Lark Rise to Candleford
- A Bunch of Amateurs as Jane Jarvis
2007
- True Dare Kiss as Beth Sweeney
2006
- Jane Eyre as Mrs. Fairfax
- Housewife, 49 as Dot
2005
- King Kong as Theatre Actor
2004
- New Tricks as Moira Wright
2001
- The Martins as Lil
2000
- A Christmas Carol as Sue Cratchett
1998
- Playing the Field as Geraldine Powell
- City Central
1997
- Midsomer Murders as Daniella Bellini
- Fever Pitch as Paul's Mum
1996
- Silent Witness as Michelle Lafferty
1995
- Jack & Sarah as Jackie
- Chiller as Susan Taylor
1994
- Pie in the Sky as Maeve Cormack
1993
- Peak Practice as Tina Greaves
- Fighting for Gemma
- Mr. Wroe's Virgins as Anne
1989
- Resurrected as Reeva
1988
- The Dressmaker as Factory Girl
- Distant Voices, Still Lives as Maisie
1987
- Rafferty's Rules as Woman No. 1
1986
- Casualty as Sandy