Lorraine Ashbourne
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Midsomer Murders
Daniella Bellini
1997
Series
Bridgerton
Mrs. Varley
2020
Series
The Crown
Barbara Castle
2016
Series
Silent Witness
Michelle Lafferty
1996
Series
Casualty
Sandy
1986
Series
Vera
Barbara Tullman
2011
Series
Peak Practice
Tina Greaves
1993
Series
Inside No. 9
Carol
2014
Series
New Tricks
Moira Wright
2004
Series
The Bill
1984
Series
Unforgotten
DI Tessa Nixon
2015
Series
Law & Order: UK
2009
Film
King Kong
Theatre Actor
2005
Series
Pie in the Sky
Maeve Cormack
1994
Series
Rafferty's Rules
Woman No. 1
1987
Series
Jane Eyre
Mrs. Fairfax
2006
Series
Lark Rise to Candleford
2008
Film
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Olwyn (voice)
2024
Series
Moving On
Treena
2009
Film
Child 44
Anna
2015
Series
Sherwood
Daphne Sparrow
2022
Film
Hitpig!
Big Bertha (voice)
2024
Series
In Suspicious Circumstances
Ann Bailey
1991
Film
Blinded by the Light
Kathy
2019
Series
London Spy
Mrs. Turner
2015
Series
Playing the Field
Geraldine Powell
1998
Series
After the Flood
Molly Marshall
2024
Film
Breathe
First Woman
2017
Series
I Hate Suzie
Karen
2020
Series
Little Crackers
Miss Meadowcroft
2010
Series
Thorne
Ruth Brigstocke
2010
Film
A Street Cat Named Bob
Local Housing Officer
2016
Series
The Interceptor
Valerie
2015
Series
Jericho
Lace Polly
2016
Series
Alma's Not Normal
Joan
2020
Series
Murderland
Rachel
2009
Series
City Central
1998
Series
Cheat
Angela Shadley
2019
Series
Riot Women
Jess
2025
Series
Chiller
Susan Taylor
1995
Film
Fever Pitch
Paul's Mum
1997
Series
Mr. Wroe's Virgins
Anne
1993
Series
Public Enemies
Marion Sharmer
2012
Thin Ice
Eileen
2006
Film
Jack & Sarah
Jackie
1995
Film
Adult Life Skills
Marion
2016
Film
I Used to Be Famous
Cheryl
2022
Film
Distant Voices, Still Lives
Maisie
1988
Film
The Selfish Giant
Mary
2013
Film
Oranges and Sunshine
Nicky
2010
Series
True Dare Kiss
Beth Sweeney
2007
Film
Housewife, 49
Dot
2006
Number Six
Susan Taylor
1995
Film
Twenty
Dianna
Film
I Hate Suzie Too
Karen
2022
Film
A Bunch of Amateurs
Jane Jarvis
2008
Rich Tea And Sympathy
1991
Film
The Martins
Lil
2001
Film
Allelujah
Mrs Earnshaw
2023
Film
Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas
2009
Film
The Dressmaker
Factory Girl
1988
Film
Resurrected
Reeva
1989
Film
The Queen and I
Violet
2018
Film
A Christmas Carol
Mrs Cratchit (voice)
2020
Film
Thorne: Scaredycat
Ruth Brigstocke
2010
Film
No Masks
2020
Film
A Christmas Carol
Sue Cratchett
2000
Happy Birthday BBC Two
Narrator
2014
Film
Emotional Fusebox
Marion
2014
Film
The Bind
Ruth
2019
Film
Fighting for Gemma
1993
Victoria Wood: What Larks! Or... What I Did on My Holidays
Athlete
2009
Film
National Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down
Aunty Carol
2024
Film
Bunny and Clive
Bunny
2016