Sarah Lancashire
Biography
Sarah Lancashire is an English actress born on October 10, 1964, in Oldham, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. Her career began in 1986, starting with local theatre and small guest roles in television dramas and sitcoms. She gained public attention through roles in popular programs including Coronation Street from 1991 to 1996 and in 2000, Where the Heart Is from 1997 to 1999, and Clocking Off in 2000. Following these roles, she signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network, appearing exclusively in ITV1 programming for two years. Lancashire has continued working extensively across various television drama genres, featuring guest appearances, regular roles in returning series, and featured roles in standalone miniseries.
Career overview
Sarah Lancashire is an English actress born on October 10, 1964, in Oldham, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. Her career began in 1986, starting with roles in local theatre alongside small guest appearances in television dramas and sitcoms.
She later came to public attention through roles in popular television programmes including Coronation Street from 1991 to 1996 and again in 2000, Where the Heart Is from 1997 to 1999, and Clocking Off in 2000. Following this recognition, Lancashire signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network, which involved appearing exclusively in ITV1 programming for the next two years.
Throughout her career, Lancashire has continued to work extensively across a variety of television drama genres. Her television work has included guest appearances, regular roles in returning series, and featured roles in standalone miniseries. With fifty-seven known acting credits, she remains an established figure in English television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- What has the BBC ever done for me? (2026) as Catherine Cawood
- Black Doves (2024) as Mrs. Reed
- Julia (2022) as Julia Child
- Everybody's Talking About Jamie (2021) as Margaret New
- Alan Bennett's Talking Heads (2020) as Gwen
- Yesterday (2019) as Liz (Liverpool Stranger)
- The Accident (2019) as Polly Bevan
- Edwardian Britain in Colour (2019) as Self - Narrator
- Kiri (2018) as Miriam Grayson
- Christmas at St Paul's (2018)
- School of Roars (2017) as Mrs. Twirlyhorn
- Dad's Army (2016) as Mrs. Pike
- The Dresser (2015) as Madge
- The First Film (2015) as Lizze Le Prince (voice)
- Fair Cop: A Century of British Policewomen (2015) as Narrator
- Happy Valley (2014) as Catherine Cawood
- The Paradise (2012) as Miss Audrey
- Last Tango in Halifax (2012) as Caroline
- Upstairs Downstairs (2010) as Miss Whisset
- Five Daughters (2010) as Rosemary Nicholls
- Wuthering Heights (2009) as Nelly Dean
- All the Small Things (2009) as Esther Caddick
- Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) as Adult Laura
- Skins (2007) as Mary
- Oliver Twist (2007) as Mrs Corney
- And When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007) as Beaty
- Sex, the City and Me (2007) as Ruth Gilbert
- Angel Cake (2006) as Elaine Wilson
- Angel Cake (2006) as Elaine Wilson
- Doctor Who (2005) as Miss Foster
- The Rotters' Club (2005) as Barbara Chase
- Cherished (2005) as Angela Cannings
- In Search of Tony Blair (2004) as Self (Narrator)
- The Afternoon Play (2003) Director
- Strike: When Britain Went to War (2003) as Self - Narrator(voice)
- Sons & Lovers (2003) as Gertrude Morel
- Rose and Maloney (2002) as Rose Linden
- Birthday Girl (2002) as Rachel Jones
- The Cry (2002) as Meg Bartlett
- The Cry (2002) as Meg Bartlet
- The Glass (2001) as Carol Parker
- Gentlemen's Relish (2001) as Violtet Askey
- Back Home (2001) as Peggy Dickinson
- Clocking Off (2000) as Yvonne Kolakowski
- Chambers (2000)
- My Fragile Heart (2000) as Trina Lavery
- Seeing Red (2000) as Coral Atkins
- Where the Heart Is (1997) as Ruth Goddard
- Bloomin' Marvellous (1997) as Liz Deakin
- Coronation Street - The Feature Length Special (1995) as Raquel Watts
- Exam Conditions (1992) as Secretary
- Murder Most Horrid (1991) as Karen Sullivan
- About Face (1989)
- Going Live! (1987) as Self
- Watching (1987) as Ms. Linden
- Dramarama (1983) as Janice Dobbs
- Coronation Street (1960) as Raquel Watts
- Coronation Street (1960) as Raquel Wolstenhulme / Raquel Watts