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