Katherine Parkinson
Biography
Katherine Parkinson is an English actress born on March 9, 1978, in Hounslow, Greater London, England. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Parkinson appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd as Jen Barber, earning a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014, alongside two BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Female Comedy Performance, winning in 2014. She was also a main cast member in the series Doc Martin for three series from 2005 to 2009. Her stage credits include appearances in the plays The Seagull in 2007, Cock in 2009, and Home, I'm Darling in 2018, which earned her an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.
Career overview
Katherine Parkinson is an English actress born on March 9, 1978, in Hounslow, Greater London, England, United Kingdom. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Her television work includes appearing in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd as Jen Barber, a role for which she received a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014. She was also nominated twice for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, winning the award in 2014. Additionally, Parkinson was a main cast member of the television series Doc Martin, co-starring in all three of her series on the show from 2005 to 2009.
Alongside her television career, Parkinson has appeared on stage in several theatrical productions. Her stage credits include roles in the plays The Seagull in 2007 and Cock in 2009. She also performed in the 2018 play Home, I'm Darling, which earned her a nomination for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play. Across her television and theatrical career, Parkinson has accumulated sixty-six known acting credits.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
69 titles- Rivals: The Official Podcast (2026) as Self
- Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza (2025) as Rachel Jessop
- Dating Mark Silcox (2025) as Claire
- Rivals (2024) as Lizzie Vereker
- That Christmas (2024) as Mrs. Forrest (voice)
- Inside No. 9: The Party's Over (2024) as Self
- Significant Other (2023) as Anna
- Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas (2023) as Rachel Jessop
- The Nan Movie (2022) as Nell
- Here We Go (2022) as Rachel Jessop
- National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing (2022) as Beatrice
- Spreadsheet (2021) as Lauren
- Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break (2021) as Clemmie
- Sitting (2021) as Mary
- Sitting (2021) Writer
- Radioactive (2020) as Jeanne Langevin
- Hitmen (2020) as Kat Gaitskill
- How to Fake a War (2020) as Kate
- The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) as Isola Pribby
- Hang Ups (2018) as Karen Muller
- Defending the Guilty (2018) as Caroline
- Guitar Man (2018) as Ms. Elanor
- Urban Myths (2017) as Ange
- Taskmaster (2015) as Self
- Humans (2015) as Laura Hawkins
- Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015) as Self - Guest
- The Kennedys (2015) as Brenda Kennedy
- Inside No. 9 (2014) as Rebecca
- Inside No. 9 (2014) as Self
- Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (2014) as Self
- Duck Quacks Don't Echo (2014)
- Sardines (2014) as Rebecca
- The Honourable Woman (2014) as Rachel Stein
- In the Club (2014) as Kim
- Off the Page: Britain Isn't Eating (2014) as Marion/Sarah
- The IT Crowd Manual (2014) as Self - Jen Barber
- 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (2013) as Self
- Crackanory (2013) as Self
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff (2012) as Conceptiva
- Coma Girl (2011) as Pip
- Sherlock (2010) as Kitty Riley
- Whites (2010) as Caroline
- Cooked (2010) as (voice)
- The Great Outdoors (2010) as Sophie
- The Boat That Rocked (2009) as Felicity
- Psychoville (2009)
- St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009) as Physics Teacher
- The Old Guys (2009) as Amber
- How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) as PR Woman
- Easy Virtue (2008) as Marion Whittaker
- The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008 (2008)
- Would I Lie to You? (2007) as Self
- Would I Lie to You? (2007) as Self - Panellist
- Christmas at the Riviera (2007) as Vanessa
- Hard to Swallow (2007) as Katie
- Katy Brand's Big Ass Show (2007) as Various
- Fear, Stress & Anger (2007) as Gemma
- The IT Crowd (2006) as Jen Barber
- Great British Menu (2006) as Self - Guest Judge
- Extras (2005) as Woman in queue
- Ahead of the Class (2005) as Vicky Foley
- Doc Martin (2004) as Pauline Lamb
- Room 101 (1994) as Self
- Have I Got News for You (1990) as Self - Hostess
- Casualty (1986) as Helen Gibbons
- Horizon (1964) as Narrator
- Have I Got a Bit More News for You as Self - Presenter
- The Bride of Vernon as Mary Mae
- The Dream Lands as Antonia
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Katherine Parkinson best known for?
Katherine Parkinson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Rivals (2024), That Christmas (2024), Radioactive (2020), The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018).
When and where was Katherine Parkinson born?
Katherine Parkinson was born on March 9, 1978 in Hounslow, Greater London, England, UK.
How many credits does Katherine Parkinson have?
Katherine Parkinson has accumulated over 69 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1964 to 2026.
What is Katherine Parkinson's background in cinema and television?
Katherine Parkinson is an English actress born on March 9, 1978, in Hounslow, Greater London, England. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Parkinson appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd as Jen Barber, earning a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014, alongside two...