Barbara Flynn
Acting Born Aug 5, 1948 Hastings, East Sussex, England, UK 95 credits
Biography
Barbara Flynn is an English actress born on 5 August 1948. She first gained prominence playing Freda Ashton in the ITV drama series A Family at War. Flynn has also appeared in various other television series, including Open All Hours, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, A Very Peculiar Practice, Cracker, Cranford, Doctor Who: Flux as Tecteun, and Beyond Paradise. In Doctor Who: Flux, she portrayed a founder of Time Lord society and The Doctor's adopted mother.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Open All Hours: Inside Out
Secrets of the Royals: Births, Marriages and Deaths
Beyond Paradise
1978: The Winter of DiscontentDiana: The Curse of the Spencers
Kate & Koji
Killing Eve
The Durrells
1864
The Christmas CandlePat & CabbageThe Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance
Cheerful Weather for the WeddingJet! When Britain Ruled the Skies
Death in ParadiseCelebrity Antiques Road TripThe BorgiasJust Henry
Burlesque FairytalesMy Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
Moving OnThe QueenA Lion Called Christian
The Marchioness Disaster
CranfordChristmas at the RivieraGuarding The Queen
Miss PotterThe Line of BeautyCracker: Nine Eleven
Doctor WhoElizabeth IMalice AforethoughtThe Queen's CastleThe 7/7 Bombers: A Psychological Investigation
Sea of SoulsHe Knew He Was Right
Hornblower: LoyaltyHornblower: DutyGeorge Orwell: A Life In PicturesRosalind Franklin: DNA's Dark Lady
The Inspector Lynley MysteriesThe Forsyte SagaThe Forsyte SagaNight Flight
Murder in MindLorna DoonePerfect
Lorna Doone
Wives and DaughtersThe EscortYou're Dead...The Man Who Would Be Kubrick
HornblowerDear NobodyKing Lear
The Vanishing ManThe Vanishing Man
Silent Witness
Chandler & Co
CrackerCrackerCracker
Maigret
PerformanceJoshua Jones
Full Filmography
95 titles- Open All Hours: Inside Out (2026)
- Secrets of the Royals: Births, Marriages and Deaths (2025) as Narrator
- Beyond Paradise (2023) as Anne Lloyd
- 1978: The Winter of Discontent (2022) as Narrator
- Diana: The Curse of the Spencers (2022) as Narrator
- Kate & Koji (2020) as Councillor Lavinia Bone
- Killing Eve (2018) as Julia
- The Durrells (2016) as Aunt Hermione
- 1864 (2014) as Queen Victoria
- The Christmas Candle (2013) as Lady Camdon
- Pat & Cabbage (2013) as Pat
- The Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance (2013) as Narrator (Voice)
- Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (2012) as Aunt Bella
- Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies (2012) as Herself - Narrator
- Death in Paradise (2011) as Patti Grenson
- Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2011) as Self - Participant
- The Borgias (2011) as Isabella
- Just Henry (2011) as Mrs Beaumont
- Burlesque Fairytales (2010) as Mrs. Argyle
- My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding (2010) as Narrator (voice)
- Moving On (2009) as Carol
- The Queen (2009) as The Queen
- A Lion Called Christian (2009) as Self - Narrator(voice)
- The Marchioness Disaster (2008) as Eileen Dallaglio
- Cranford (2007) as Mrs Jamieson
- Christmas at the Riviera (2007) as Rita
- Guarding The Queen (2007) as Narrator
- Miss Potter (2006) as Helen Potter
- The Line of Beauty (2006) as Sally Tipper
- Cracker: Nine Eleven (2006) as Judith Fitzgerald
- Doctor Who (2005) as Awsok
- Elizabeth I (2005) as Mary Queen of Scots
- Malice Aforethought (2005) as Julia Bickleigh
- The Queen's Castle (2005) as Narrator (Voice)
- The 7/7 Bombers: A Psychological Investigation (2005) as Voice
- Sea of Souls (2004) as Lt Col Petra Summers
- He Knew He Was Right (2004) as Mrs French
- Hornblower: Loyalty (2003) as Mrs. Mason
- Hornblower: Duty (2003) as Mrs. Mason
- George Orwell: A Life In Pictures (2003) as Narrator
- Rosalind Franklin: DNA's Dark Lady (2003) as Narrator
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002) as Maureen Finnegan
- The Forsyte Saga (2002) as Emily Forsyte
- The Forsyte Saga (2002) as Emily
- Night Flight (2002) as Moira
- Murder in Mind (2001) as Grace Fisher
- Lorna Doone (2001) as Sarah Ridd
- Perfect (2001) as Imogen
- Lorna Doone (2000) as Sarah Ridd
- Wives and Daughters (1999) as Miss Browning
- The Escort (1999) as Kim's Mother
- You're Dead... (1999) as Prof. Corner
- The Man Who Would Be Kubrick (1999) as Self - Narrator
- Hornblower (1998) as Mrs Mason
- Dear Nobody (1998) as Chris' Mother
- King Lear (1998) as Goneril
- The Vanishing Man (1997) as Dr Jeffries
- The Vanishing Man (1997) as Me Jeffries
- Silent Witness (1996) as Carol Fisher
- Chandler & Co (1994) as Dee Tate
- Cracker (1993)
- Cracker (1993) as Judith Fitzgerald
- Cracker (1993) as Judith
- Maigret (1992)
- Performance (1991) as Goneril
- Joshua Jones (1991)
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Mrs Allerton
- Bosses From Hell (1989)
- Benefactors (1989)
- The Justice Game (1989) as Eleanor Goodchild
- The Beiderbecke Connection (1988) as Jill Swinburne
- Inspector Morse (1987) as Monica Height
- The Beiderbecke Tapes (1987) as Jill Swinburne
- A Very Peculiar Practice (1986) as Dr Rose Marie
- Season's Greetings (1986) as Belinda
- Day To Remember (1986) as Judy
- The Beiderbecke Affair (1985) as Jill Swinburne
- The Barchester Chronicles (1982) as Mary Bold
- Britannia Hospital (1982) as Private Nurse
- A Mother Like Him (1982) as Jill
- The New Adventures of Lucky Jim (1982) as Joanna Lassiter
- The Bagthorpe Saga (1981) as Sue
- No Visible Scar (1981) as Margaret Hanson
- Standing in for Henry (1980) as Heather
- Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle (1977) as Pauline Sutton
- Love on a Gunboat (1977) as Monica Potter
- Open All Hours (1976) as The Milk Woman
- The Flight Fund (1975) as Angie
- Playhouse (1974) as Heather
- Centre Play (1973) as Angie
- Play for Today (1970) as Monica Potter
- Play for Today (1970) as Margaret Hanson
- Play for Today (1970) as Jill
- A Family at War (1970) as Freda MacKenzie
- A Family at War (1970) as Freda Ashton
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Barbara Flynn best known for?
Barbara Flynn is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Beyond Paradise (2023), Killing Eve (2018), The Durrells (2016), Death in Paradise (2011).
When and where was Barbara Flynn born?
Barbara Flynn was born on August 5, 1948 in Hastings, East Sussex, England, UK.
How many credits does Barbara Flynn have?
Barbara Flynn has accumulated over 95 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1970 to 2026.
What is Barbara Flynn's background in cinema and television?
Barbara Flynn is an English actress born on 5 August 1948. She first gained prominence playing Freda Ashton in the ITV drama series A Family at War. Flynn has also appeared in various other television series, including Open All Hours, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, A Very Peculiar Practice, Cracker, Cranford, Doctor Who: Flu...
Barbara Flynn by the numbers
95credits
36films
59TV series
1970–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Murder in Mind (2001) as Grace Fisher — aged about 52
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Mrs Allerton — aged about 40
- A Very Peculiar Practice (1986) as Dr Rose Marie — aged about 37
- Cranford (2007) as Mrs Jamieson — aged about 58
- Killing Eve (2018) as Julia — aged about 69
- The Forsyte Saga (2002) as Emily Forsyte — aged about 53
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