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