Lorraine Ashbourne (born 7 January 1961) is an English actress.
Early life and education Ashbourne was born on 7 January 1961, in Manchester, England.
She attended Wilbraham High School, while living in Fallowfield.Manchester Evening News Friday 16 April 1982, page 6 She joined Stretford Children's Theatre.Manchester Evening News Thursday 21 December 1989, page 23 She took part in the University of Manchester Stage Society and Manchester Youth Theatre.Manchester Evening News Friday 29 January 1982, page 14 She joined the Webber Drama School in 1982.
Career 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 portrayed 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).
Ashbourne plays Jess in the comedy-drama series Riot Women (2025–).
Personal life In 1987, Ashbourne dated actor Glyn Pritchard, who played chef Paul on Crossroads.Manchester Evening News Thursday 26 February 1987, page 40
She has been in a relationship with actor Andy Serkis since at least 1993, having toured together in a play at the Royal Exchange in 1989.Manchester Evening News Tuesday 11 May 1993, page 8 Ashbourne married Serkis and they have three children, including actors Sonny, Ruby and Louis Ashbourne Serkis.
Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released
Film Year Title RoleRef.1988Distant Voices, Still LivesMaisie DaviesThe DressmakerFactory Girl1989ResurrectedReeva1995Jack and SarahJackie1997Fever PitchMrs. Ashworth2001Lil2005King KongTheatre Actor #32008Jane Jarvis2010Oranges and SunshineNickyThorne: ScaredycatRuth Brigstocke2013Mary2015Child 44Anna2016Adult Life SkillsMarion2017BreatheFirst Woman2019Blinded by the LightKathyPam Cullen 2022 I Used to Be Famous Cheryl2024 Hitpig! Big Bertha (voice) The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Olwyn (voice)
Television Year Title Role NotesRef.1987Tracy"Brownie Points"CasualtySandy"Cry for Help"1988London's BurningSue"1.2"1989BoonJudy"Big Game Hunt"1990Maria"Something Special"1991Rich Tea and SympathyKaren RudgeTV series1993Mr. Wroe's VirginsAnne"Leah's Story"Fighting for GemmaSusan D'ArcyTV film1994Jenny Longden"He Who Waits"In Suspicious CircumstancesAnn Bailey"Absence of Mercy"CasualtyTeresa England"Relations"Three Seven ElevenSylvia Powers"2.2", "2.3"1995Pie in the SkyMaeve Cormack"The Mild Bunch"ChillerSusan Taylor"Number Six"Peak PracticeTina Greaves"Life and Soul", "Other Lives"1996Shirley Briggs"Too Close for Comfort"1998–2000City CentralSgt. Yvonne MackeyMain role1998–2002Playing the FieldGeraldine PowellMain role2000Sue CratchettTV film2001In a Land of PlentyEdnaTV series2002Clocking OffSally Preston"Alan's Story"2003Love AgainBetty MackerethTV filmAnna Goodman"1.3"2006Thin IceEileenTV miniseriesJane EyreMrs. FairfaxTV miniseriesHousewife, 49DotTV film2007True Dare KissBeth SweeneyMain roleCath HanleyEpisode: "Demolition", "Taxi"2009Lark Rise to CandlefordLilly Spicer"Episode 2.3"Law & Order: UKMaureen WaltersEpisode: "Care"MurderlandRachelTV miniseriesVictoria Wood's Mid Life ChristmasCatheter FinchTV film2010Moving OnTreenaEpisode: "I am Darleen Fyles"ThorneRuth BrigstockeEpisode: "Sleepyhead", "Scaredycat"Little CrackersMiss Meadowcroft"Victoria Wood's Little Cracker: The Giddy Kipper"2011Coming UpLindaEpisode: "Rough Skin"2012New TricksMoira WrightEpisode: "Body of Evidence"Public EnemiesMarion SharmerTV miniseriesJune Juniper"Episode 1.3"HomefrontCheryl DaviesTV miniseries2014Silent WitnessDI Rachel Klein"Coup de Grace: Parts 1 & 2"2015Inside No. 9CarolEpisode: "Nana's Party"ValerieMain roleNew TricksVicky CollinsEpisode: "The Crazy Gang"London SpyMrs. TurnerTV miniseries2016JerichoLace PollyMain role2017UnforgottenDI Tessa NixonMain role (Series 2)GrantchesterCora Maguire"3.5"Maigret in MontmartreRosa AlfonsiTV film2018Midsomer MurdersDaniella Bellini"Send in the Clowns"2019The CrownBarbara Castle6 episodes2020–presentBridgertonMrs. VarleyRegular role2020–2024Alma's Not NormalJoan Nuthall12 episodes2022–presentSherwood Daphne Sparrow12 episodes2022–2024I Hate SuzieKaren4 episodes2024–2026After the FloodMolly Marshall12 episodes2025–presentRiot WomenJess6 episodes
Stage work Ashbourne's roles in the theatre include:Murray, Braham (2007). The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster. London: Methuen Drama. .The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976-1998, 1998, Miss Kate Hardcastle, She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1990) She's in Your Hands by Georges Feydeau at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1990) Jean, Your Home in the West by Rod Wooden at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991) Crystal, Doctor Heart by Peter Muller at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991) Rhoda Nunn, The Odd Women by Michael Meyer at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1992) Grushenka,The Brothers Karamazov at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1993) The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1994) Viv, Babies by Jonathon Harvey at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1994) Jocasta, The Phoenician Women by Euripides for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1995) Miss Hoyden, The Relapse by John Vanburgh for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1995) May, Fool For Love by Sam Shepherd at the Donmar Warehouse, London (1996) Emilia, Othello at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (2002) Olga, The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov at the National Theatre, London (2003) Aunt Dan, Aunt Dan and Lemon by Wallace Shawn at the Royal Court Theatre, London (2009) Aunty Carol, Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre, London (2024)
References
External links
Profile, bbc.co.uk. Accessed 9 April 2024.