Ruth Sheen
Acting • Born 1952-01-01
Biography
Ruth Sheen (born 1952) is an English actress. Born in London, Sheen began her career by training at the East 15 Acting School, and has appeared regularly on British television and in British films since 1988. On television, she had recurring roles as Nanny Simmons in Berkeley Square (1998), and as Nurse Ethel Carr in the series Bramwell (1995–1998). She has also appeared as four different characters in six episodes of The Bill between 1989 and 2004. She has also appeared in five Mike Leigh films: in the female lead role of Shirley in High Hopes (1988); as Laughing Woman in Secrets & Lies (1996); as Maureen in All or Nothing (2002), as Lily in Vera Drake (2004) and as Gerri in Another Year (2010). Her role in High Hopes won her the Best Actress award at the 1989 European Film Awards. In 2007, she played the role of Lyn, opposite Ben Whishaw's Steven, in the world premiere of Philip Ridley's stage play, Leaves of Glass at the Soho Theatre, London. She also plays the mother of Jim Sturgess's character, Jamie, in Philip Ridley's feature film, Heartless.
Filmography
74 credits
Vera Drake
Movie • 2004
Lily
Run Fatboy Run
Movie • 2007
Claudine
All or Nothing
Movie • 2002
Maureen
Bait
Movie • 2000
Cafe Woman
Another Year
Movie • 2010
Gerri
Heartless
Movie • 2010
Marion Morgan
The Young Poisoner's Handbook
Movie • 1995
Molly
High Hopes
Movie • 1989
Shirley
Fanny Hill
Movie • 2007
Mrs. Jones
Clubland
Movie • 1991
Karen
Cyrano
Movie • 2021
Mother Marthe
The English Harem
Movie • 2005
Emily
A Class Apart
Movie • 2007
Ruth - Candy's mum
The After
Movie • 2024
Tabatha
A Fatal Inversion
Movie • 1992
Forensic Scientist
Sweetly It Turns
Movie • 2023
Joy
Touch
Movie • 2024
Mrs. Ellis
Sin Bin
Movie • 1994
Viv Hastings
Different for Girls
Movie • 1996
Nosy neighbour
Mr. Turner
Movie • 2014
Sarah Danby
A Royal Night Out
Movie • 2015
Jack's Mum
Lorna Doone
Movie • 2001
Betty Muxworthy
Night Voice
Movie • 1990
Helen Baldwin
Ghostwatch
Movie • 1992
Emma Stableford (voice)
SuperBob
Movie • 2015
Pat
Footprints in the Snow
Movie • 2005
Lady Victualler
The Hardest Part
Movie • 2010
Bus Lady
Brave Young Men
Movie • 2009
Stephanie Malloy
Virtual Sexuality
Movie • 1999
Jackie Lovett
The One and Only Mike Leigh
Movie • 2014
Self
Secrets & Lies
Movie • 1996
Laughing Woman
Imagine Me & You
Movie • 2006
Mrs Webster
Welcome to the Punch
Movie • 2013
Iris Warns
A Street Cat Named Bob
Movie • 2016
Elsie
When Pigs Fly
Movie • 1993
Marge
VS.
Movie • 2018
Fiona
Hush Your Mouth
Movie • 2007
Mrs Collins
Little Dorrit
Movie • 1987
Society Lady
Cheeky
Movie • 2003
Tamara
Vanity Fair
Movie • 2004
Miss Pinkerton
Plain Jane
Movie • 2002
May
The Angry Earth
Movie • 1989
Nurse Berry
Don Quixote
Movie • 2000
1st Wench / Young Lady
The Thursday Murder Club
Movie • 2025
Aunt Maud
The Bill
TV • 1984
Vital Signs
TV • 2006
It's a Sin
TV • 2021
Sandra
The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling
TV • 1997
Mrs. Harris
Silent Witness
TV • 1996
The Nevers
TV • 2021
Mrs. Beechum
Bramwell
TV • 1995
Fanny Hill
TV • 2007
Mrs Jones
Inside No. 9
TV • 2014
Elizabeth Gadge
Unforgotten
TV • 2015
Lizzie Wilton
Misfits
TV • 2009
Maggie
Cracker
TV • 1993
Jean McIlvanney
Hijack
TV • 2023
Elaine Atterton
Peak Practice
TV • 1993
Pauline Wadham
Casualty
TV • 1986
Barbara George
Lorna Doone
TV • 2000
Betty Muxworthy
Cracker
TV • 1993
Jean McIIvanney
Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky
TV • 2005
Aunt Winnie
Never Never
TV • 2000
Sandra
The Woman in White
TV • 2018
Mrs. Clements
Berkeley Square
TV • 1998
Nanny Simmons
A Class Apart
TV • 2007
Ruth
Brassic
TV • 2019
Kath
Strike
TV • 2017
Pat Chauncey
Midsomer Murders
TV • 1997
Valerie Horton
Prime Suspect 1973
TV • 2017
Renee Bentley
Accused
TV • 2010
Mo's Mum
Gangs of London
TV • 2020
Deborah Devereux
Screen Two
TV • 1985
Viv Hastings
The Mimic
TV • 2013
Mrs Hurdle