Sarah Lancashire
Acting • Born 1964-10-10
Biography
Sarah Lancashire is an English actress whose career began in 1986. Lancashire's first acting roles were in local theatre, with small guest roles in television dramas and sitcoms. After coming to public attention with roles in popular programmes including Coronation Street (1991-1996, 2000), Where the Heart Is (1997–1999) and Clocking Off (2000), Lancashire signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network, appearing exclusively in ITV1 programming for the next two years. Lancashire has continued to work extensively across a variety of television drama genres, including guest appearances, regular roles in returning series and with featured roles in standalone miniseries' and television films. Her more prolific work includes the drama series' Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011), Last Tango in Halifax (2012-2020) and Happy Valley (2014, 2016, 2023). Lancashire has appeared in the feature films And When Did You Last See Your Father? and Dad's Army and has returned to West End Theatre several times since her 1990 stint in Blood Brothers. Her combined acting credits have earned Lancashire a number of awards and nominations over a career spanning four decades and a prominent status within the British Television Industry of the 21st century. Lancashire was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to drama.
Filmography
52 credits
Gentlemen's Relish
Movie • 2001
Violtet Askey
Exam Conditions
Movie • 1992
Secretary
Coronation Street - The Feature Length Special
Movie • 1995
Raquel Watts
Sons & Lovers
Movie • 2003
Gertrude Morel
And When Did You Last See Your Father?
Movie • 2007
Beaty
Dad's Army
Movie • 2016
Mrs. Pike
The Dresser
Movie • 2015
Madge
Sex, the City and Me
Movie • 2007
Ruth Gilbert
Birthday Girl
Movie • 2002
Rachel Jones
Back Home
Movie • 2001
Peggy Dickinson
The Cry
Movie • 2002
Meg Bartlet
Seeing Red
Movie • 2000
Coral Atkins
Cherished
Movie • 2005
Angela Cannings
Angel Cake
Movie • 2006
Elaine Wilson
Fair Cop: A Century of British Policewomen
Movie • 2015
Narrator
The First Film
Movie • 2015
Lizze Le Prince (voice)
Yesterday
Movie • 2019
Liz (Liverpool Stranger)
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Movie • 2021
Margaret New
My Fragile Heart
Movie • 2000
Trina Lavery
Christmas at St Paul's
Movie • 2018
In Search of Tony Blair
Movie • 2004
Self (Narrator)
Where the Heart Is
TV • 1997
Ruth Goddard
Murder Most Horrid
TV • 1991
Karen Sullivan
Skins
TV • 2007
Mary
Chambers
TV • 2000
Julia
TV • 2022
Julia Child
Lark Rise to Candleford
TV • 2008
Adult Laura
Wuthering Heights
TV • 2009
Nelly Dean
Rose and Maloney
TV • 2002
The Rotters' Club
TV • 2005
Barbara Chase
Angel Cake
TV • 2006
Elaine Wilson
Five Daughters
TV • 2010
Rosemary Nicholls
Last Tango in Halifax
TV • 2012
Caroline
Doctor Who
TV • 2005
Miss Foster
Happy Valley
TV • 2014
Catherine Cawood
The Paradise
TV • 2012
Miss Audrey
Alan Bennett's Talking Heads
TV • 2020
Gwen
About Face
TV • 1989
The Glass
TV • 2001
Carol Parker
Black Doves
TV • 2024
Mrs. Reed
Kiri
TV • 2018
Miriam Grayson
Going Live!
TV • 1987
Self
All the Small Things
TV • 2009
Esther Caddick
Coronation Street
TV • 1960
Raquel Wolstenhulme / Raquel Watts
Coronation Street
TV • 1960
Raquel Watts
Bloomin' Marvellous
TV • 1997
Liz Deakin
The Accident
TV • 2019
Polly Bevan
The Cry
TV • 2002
Meg Bartlett
School of Roars
TV • 2017
Mrs. Twirlyhorn
Watching
TV • 1987
Ms. Linden
Oliver Twist
TV • 2007
Mrs Corney
Clocking Off
TV • 2000
Yvonne Kolakowski