Acting · Manchester, England, UK · Born January 7, 1961
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)
TVRiot Women
2025
as Jess
MovieThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
2024
as Olwyn (voice)
MovieHitpig!
2024
as Big Bertha (voice)
MovieNational Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down
2024
as Aunty Carol
TVAfter the Flood
2024
as Molly Marshall
MovieAllelujah
2023
as Mrs Earnshaw
MovieI Hate Suzie Too
2022
as Karen
MovieI Used to Be Famous
2022
as Cheryl
TVSherwood
2022
as Daphne Sparrow
TVBridgerton
2020
as Mrs. Varley
MovieA Christmas Carol
2020
as Mrs Cratchit (voice)
MovieNo Masks
2020
TVI Hate Suzie
2020
as Karen
TVAlma's Not Normal
2020
as Joan
MovieThe Bind
2019
as Ruth
MovieBlinded by the Light
2019
as Kathy
TVCheat
2019
as Angela Shadley
MovieThe Queen and I
2018
as Violet
MovieBreathe
2017
as First Woman
MovieA Street Cat Named Bob
2016
as Local Housing Officer
TVThe Crown
2016
as Barbara Castle
MovieAdult Life Skills
2016
as Marion
TVJericho
2016
as Lace Polly
MovieBunny and Clive
2016
as Bunny
TVLondon Spy
2015
as Mrs. Turner
TVUnforgotten
2015
as DI Tessa Nixon
TVThe Interceptor
2015
as Valerie
MovieChild 44
2015
as Anna
MovieEmotional Fusebox
2014
as Marion
Happy Birthday BBC Two
2014
as Narrator
TVInside No. 9
2014
as Carol
MovieThe Selfish Giant
2013
as Mary
TVPublic Enemies
2012
as Marion Sharmer
TVVera
2011
as Barbara Tullman
TVLittle Crackers
2010
as Miss Meadowcroft
MovieThorne: Scaredycat
2010
as Ruth Brigstocke
TVThorne
2010
as Ruth Brigstocke
MovieOranges and Sunshine
2010
as Nicky
Victoria Wood: What Larks! Or... What I Did on My Holidays
2009
as Athlete
MovieVictoria Wood's Midlife Christmas
2009
TVMurderland
2009
as Rachel
TVMoving On
2009
as Treena
TVLaw & Order: UK
2009
MovieA Bunch of Amateurs
2008
as Jane Jarvis
TVLark Rise to Candleford
2008
TVTrue Dare Kiss
2007
as Beth Sweeney
MovieHousewife, 49
2006
as Dot
TVJane Eyre
2006
as Mrs. Fairfax
MovieKing Kong
2005
as Theatre Actor
TVNew Tricks
2004
as Moira Wright
MovieThe Martins
2001
as Lil
MovieA Christmas Carol
2000
as Sue Cratchett
TVCity Central
1998
TVPlaying the Field
1998
as Geraldine Powell
MovieFever Pitch
1997
as Paul's Mum
TVMidsomer Murders
1997
as Daniella Bellini
TVSilent Witness
1996
as Michelle Lafferty
MovieJack & Sarah
1995
as Jackie
Number Six
1995
as Susan Taylor
TVChiller
1995
as Susan Taylor
TVPie in the Sky
1994
as Maeve Cormack
MovieFighting for Gemma
1993
TVPeak Practice
1993
as Tina Greaves
TVMr. Wroe's Virgins
1993
as Anne
Rich Tea And Sympathy
1991
TVIn Suspicious Circumstances
1991
as Ann Bailey
MovieResurrected
1989
as Reeva
MovieThe Dressmaker
1988
as Factory Girl
MovieDistant Voices, Still Lives
1988
as Maisie
TVRafferty's Rules
1987
as Woman No. 1
TVCasualty
1986
as Sandy
TVThe Bill
1984
MovieTwenty
as Dianna
