Jessica Hynes
Known for: Acting
Jessica Hynes (née Stevenson) is a British actress, director and writer. Best known as a comedy actress, she has played Cheryl in The Royle Family (1998–2010), Siobhan Sharpe in Twenty Twelve (2011–2012) and W1A (2014–2017) and Emily Yates in There She Goes (2018–2023). She was also one of the stars, creators and writers of Spaced (1999–2001). She has also had starring roles in television film Tomorrow La Scala! and BBC dramas Years and Years (2019) and Miss Austen (2025). In film, Hynes has appeared in the Bridget Jones (2004–2016), Nativity (2012–2018) and Paddington (2017–2024) film series. Hynes has been nominated for two International Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, five BAFTAs (winning two), three Royal Television Society Awards (winning two) and three British Comedy Awards (winning two). Hynes was born in Lewisham, London, and grew up in Brighton, where she attended St Luke's Infant and Junior Schools and Dorothy Stringer High School. After her parents split up, she was raised by her mother. She moved back to London as a young adult. Her maternal grandmother came from the village of Llanelian, north Wales, where her uncle also ran a farm. Her mother is a fluent Welsh speaker who later moved back to north Wales. In 2023, Hynes took part in the S4C series Iaith ar Daith where she began to learn the Welsh language; she cited being able to speak Welsh to her mother as a reason why she wanted to take part in the programme. Early in her career, Hynes teamed up with future Spaced co-star Katy Carmichael in a comedy double-act called the Liz Hurleys, appeared in two productions at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, and acted for television shows including Staying Alive, Six Pairs of Pants, (Un)natural Acts, and Asylum (on which the Spaced team of Hynes, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright first assembled). From 1998 to 2000, she played the supporting role of Cheryl in the hit sitcom The Royle Family; she reprised the role for special episodes in 2006, 2009 and 2010. In 1999, she co-wrote and starred in Spaced, for which she won two comedy awards and was nominated for an International Emmy and a Bafta for writing and creating the show alongside Simon Pegg. In 2017 , she directed her first feature film, The Fight, produced by Jamie Adams and Unstoppable media. In 2018, she played the role of a mother in the BBC Four programme There She Goes. She stars alongside David Tennant, raising a daughter with a severe learning disability. It is based on the real life of writer Shaun Pye and his wife Sarah Crawford whose daughter was born with a chromosomal disorder. She won a Bafta for her role in the series and was nominated for an International Emmy for her role in '414' the special made in 2023. In 2019, she starred in the BBC and HBO production Years and Years for which she won a Royal Television Society award.
Filmography
Series
Midsomer Murders
Judith Lessiter
1997
Series
Doctor Who
Joan Redfern
2005
Series
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Series
Skins
Crystal
2007
Series
QI
Self
2003
Film
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Mafalda Hopkirk (voice)
2007
Series
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Self
1996
Series
Would I Lie to You?
Self
2007
Series
8 Out of 10 Cats
Self
2005
Series
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Self
2013
Series
The Last Leg
Self
2013
Series
Inside No. 9
Helen
2014
Film
Paddington in Peru
Miss Kitts
2024
Film
Shaun of the Dead
Yvonne
2004
Film
Death of a Unicorn
Shaw
2025
Series
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin
The Reddlehag
2024
Series
Celebrity Mastermind
2003
Series
The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer
Self - Guest
2018
Series
Patience
DI Frankie Monroe
2025
Film
Bridget Jones's Baby
Magda
2016
Series
The Franchise
Steph Mundun
2024
Film
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Magda
2004
Film
Paddington 2
Miss Kitts
2017
Series
Doctor Who Confidential
2005
Series
Black Books
Eva
2000
Staying Alive
Alice Timpson
1996
Series
Room 101
Self
1994
Series
The House of Eliott
Charlotte Parker
1991
Series
Travel Man: 48 Hours in...
Self - Guest
2015
Series
Years and Years
Edith Lyons
2019
Series
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self
2001
Series
The Royle Family
Cheryl Carroll
1998
Series
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
Self
2014
Series
Twenty Twelve
Siobhan Sharpe
2011
Series
W1A
Siobhan Sharpe
2014
Series
Spaced
Daisy Steiner
1999
Series
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
2014
Series
David Mitchell's Outsiders
Self
2021
Series
Miss Austen
Mary Austen
2025
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
2000
Series
Dreaming Whilst Black
Drew
2021
Series
Hooten & The Lady
Ella Bond
2016
Series
Blandings
Lady Daphne Littlewood
2013
Series
British Film Forever
Narrator
2007
Series
Life After Life
Mrs Glover
2022
Series
World's Most Dangerous Roads
2011
Series
Crackanory
Self
2013
Series
Mood
Laura
2022
Series
The F Word
2005
Series
The Witchfinder
Old Myers
2022
Series
Bob & Rose
Holly Vance
2001
Crown Prosecutor
Jackie South
1995
Series
The Ranganation
Self
2019
Series
Insert Name Here
Self - Panelist
2016
Series
Hang Ups
Katherine Pitt
2018
Film
Son of Rambow
Mary Proudfoot
2007
Series
People Like Us
Sarah
1999
Film
Burke & Hare
Lucky
2010
Series
Up the Women
Margaret
2013
Artsnight
Self
2015
Film
Swing Kids
Helga
1993
Film
Chalet Girl
Interviewer 2
2011
Series
Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig
Self
2021
Series
Gadget Man
2012
Series
There She Goes
Emily
2018
Series
Justin Lee Collins: Good Times
Self
2010
Series
Asylum
Martha
1996
Film
The Baby of Mâcon
The First Midwife (as Jessica Stevenson)
1993
Series
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
Self
2014
Series
Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round
1998
Film
Spaced: Skip to the End
Self
2004
Series
Dara O Briain's Science Club
Herself
2012
Series
One Night
Carol
2012
Celebrity Advice Bureau
Self
2016
Film
Confetti
Sam (as Jessica Stevenson)
2006
Series
Jack and Dean of All Trades
Marv (voice)
2016
Film
Swallows and Amazons
Mrs. Jackson
2016
Film
Roald Dahl's Most Marvellous Book
Self
2016
Film
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse
Sofie Dahl
2020
Film
Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!
Angel Matthews
2012
Series
Unnatural Acts
1998
Film
Faintheart
Cath
2009
All Star Musicals
Self - Performer
2017
Film
Seagull
Janet
2019
Film
Pure
Paramedic (as Jessica Stevenson)
2002
Film
Dick Whittington: The ITV Pantomime
The Good Fairy (as Jessica Stevenson)
2002
Film
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie
Gail
2014
Film
Born Romantic
Libby
2000
Film
Seize Them!
Leofwine
2024
Mash and Peas
1996
Film
Four Last Songs
Miranda
2007
According to Bex
2005
Tears Before Bedtime
Maggie
1995
Six Pairs of Pants
1995
Film
Cider with Rosie
Crabby
2015
Film
Magicians
Linda Jones
2007
Film
Miranda: My Such Fun Celebration
Self
2020
The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hall
Self
2006
Film
Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of Squirrel
Self
2021
Comic Aid
Herself - Presenter
2005
Film
The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
Self
2010
Film
Pinochet in Suburbia
WPC Broughton
2006
Film
Nativity Rocks!
Angel Matthews
2018
Film
Learners
Beverley
2007
Film
The Royle Family: Joe's Crackers
Cheryl
2010
Film
The Mighty Boosh: A Journey Through Time and Space
Herself
2008
Bosom Pals
2004
Film
The Fight
Tina Bell
2019
Film
Lizzie and Sarah
Sarah/Ellie
2010
Film
The Lost Explorer
2010
Film
Hollywood's Dark Secret
Self
2019
Film
Catching the Bus
Marion
2021
Film
Songbird
Sara
2018
We Love Sitcom
2016
Film
Tomorrow La Scala!
Victoria (as Jessica Stevenson)
2002
Film
Winter
Claudia
2015
Film
The Golden Egg Cup
Cheryl Carroll
2009
Film
A Brush with Comedy
Self
2023
Film
Shelter
Wendie
2017
The Angina Monologues
Herself/Sarah
2010
Film
Rapture
2023