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Sue Johnston

Acting Born Dec 7, 1943 Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK 103 credits

Biography

Susan Johnston is an English actress born on 7 December 1943. She is known for her roles in various television shows. Johnston played Sheila Grant in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside from 1982 to 1990. She also appeared in the BBC comedy The Royle Family, playing the role of Barbara Royle, from 1998 to 2000 and in subsequent years. Johnston's other notable roles include Grace Foley in the BBC drama Waking the Dead and Gloria Price in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She received the 2000 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress and was nominated for the 2000 BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance.

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Known for

Ann Droid

as Sue
Film

Welcome to Borovia

as Matrashka
Film

Downton Abbey: A New Era

as Gladys Denker

Time

as June Cobden

Celebrity Gogglebox

2019

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

as Self - Participant

Downton Abbey

as Miss Denker
Film

Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier

as Betty (1980s)

Would I Lie to You?

as Self
Film

Ghost in the Shell 2.0

as Self
Film

Grease

as Sal Vine
Film

Imagine Me & You

as Ella

Frequent co-stars

Tara Fitzgerald 2 shared titles
Eva Birthistle 2 shared titles
Trevor Eve 1 shared title
Wil Johnson 1 shared title
Félicité Du Jeu 1 shared title
Holly Aird 1 shared title
Claire Goose 1 shared title
Esther Hall 1 shared title
George Rainsford 1 shared title
Stacey Roca 1 shared title

Career timeline

Ann DroidWelcome to Borovia
Fackham HallPlay for TodayStuffedDexter ProcterBig Winners
Generation ZTrueloveThe Big Snow of '47Ricky, Sue & a Trip or Two
The Royle Family - Down the Back of the SofaRicky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle FamilyCaroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy
Downton Abbey: A New EraThe Responder
TimeTaskmaster’s New Year TreatHelpRobbo: The Bryan Robson StoryKensington Palace: Behind Closed Doors
David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV Star
Celebrity GoggleboxThe CockfieldsDNA JourneyThe Cure
Walk Like a PantherDeath on the TyneAge Before Beauty
Harry Hill's Alien Fun CapsuleShannon Matthews: What Happened NextDiana and the PaparazziShannon Matthews: The Mother's Story
RoversGolden YearsBritish Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at OurselvesWorld Cup 1966: Alfie's Boys
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
Caring for the Recently Deceased
Being Eileen
The Royle Family: Barbara's Old RingGates
Celebrity Antiques Road TripLaplandBaby HospitalSugartown
Downton AbbeyThe Royle Family: Joe's CrackersA Passionate WomanThe Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
The Turn of the ScrewThe Golden Egg CupTourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It
Little DorritThe Royle Family: The New Sofa
Would I Lie to You?The Alan Titchmarsh Show
Jam and JerusalemThe StreetImagine Me & You
Liverpool FC: One Night in May
The Paul O'Grady ShowStrictly Come DancingWho Do You Think You Are?
TimeshiftCutting ItThere's Only One Paul McCartneyThe Virgin Mary
Waking the DeadMy Uncle SilasNew Year's DayScore
Loose WomenSex, Chips & Rock n' RollSex, Chips & Rock n' RollFinest Hour
ParkinsonThe Royle FamilyDuck PatrolThe JumpBrookside: Friday the 13th
Crime TravellerPreaching to the PervertedFaceBrookside: The Lost Weekend
Hetty Wainthropp InvestigatesBrassed Off
Hollyoaks

Full filmography

  • Ann Droid (2026) as Sue
  • Welcome to Borovia (2026) as Matrashka
  • Fackham Hall (2025) as Great Aunt Bonaparte
  • Play for Today (2025) as Edith Thistle
  • Stuffed (2025) as Lily
  • Dexter Procter (2025) as Granny Bet
  • Big Winners (2025) as Edith Thistle
  • Generation Z (2024) as Cecily
  • Truelove (2024) as Marion
  • The Big Snow of '47 (2024) as Self - Narrator (voice)
  • Ricky, Sue & a Trip or Two (2024) as Herself
  • The Royle Family - Down the Back of the Sofa (2023) as Self / Barbara Royle (archive footage)
  • Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Family (2023) as Barbara Royle (archive footage)
  • Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy (2023) as Self
  • Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) as Gladys Denker
  • The Responder (2022) as Madge
  • Time (2021) as June Cobden
  • Taskmaster’s New Year Treat (2021) as Self
  • Help (2021) as Gloria
  • Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story (2021) as Self
  • Kensington Palace: Behind Closed Doors (2021) as Narrator
  • David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV Star (2020) as Narrator
  • Celebrity Gogglebox (2019)
  • The Cockfields (2019) as Sue
  • DNA Journey (2019) as Self
  • The Cure (2019) as Bella Bailey
  • Walk Like a Panther (2018) as Gladys
  • Death on the Tyne (2018) as Colleen
  • Age Before Beauty (2018) as Ivy-Rae Regan
  • Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule (2017) as Self
  • Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next (2017) as Self - Narrator
  • Diana and the Paparazzi (2017) as Narrator (voice)
  • Shannon Matthews: The Mother's Story (2017) as Narrator
  • Rovers (2016) as Doreen
  • Golden Years (2016) as Nancy
  • British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves (2016) as Barbara Royle (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • World Cup 1966: Alfie's Boys (2016) as Self
  • The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One (2015) as Self
  • Caring for the Recently Deceased (2014) as Marjoram Bryon
  • Being Eileen (2013) as Eileen Lewis
  • The Royle Family: Barbara's Old Ring (2012) as Barbara Royle
  • Gates (2012) as Miss Hunter
  • Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2011) as Self - Participant
  • Lapland (2011) as Eileen Lewis
  • Baby Hospital (2011)
  • Sugartown (2011)
  • Downton Abbey (2010) as Miss Denker
  • The Royle Family: Joe's Crackers (2010) as Barbara
  • A Passionate Woman (2010) as Betty (1980s)
  • The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa (2010) as Self
  • The Turn of the Screw (2009) as Sarah Grose
  • The Golden Egg Cup (2009) as Barbara Royle
  • Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It (2009) as Self - Narrator (voice)
  • Little Dorrit (2008) as Affery / Affery Flintwinch
  • The Royle Family: The New Sofa (2008) as Barbara Royle
  • Would I Lie to You? (2007) as Self
  • The Alan Titchmarsh Show (2007) as Self
  • Jam and Jerusalem (2006) as Sal Vine
  • The Street (2006)
  • Imagine Me & You (2006) as Ella
  • Liverpool FC: One Night in May (2005) as Self
  • The Paul O'Grady Show (2004)
  • Strictly Come Dancing (2004) as Self
  • Who Do You Think You Are? (2004) as Self
  • Timeshift (2002) as Self - Narrator
  • Cutting It (2002) as Caroline Ferraday
  • There's Only One Paul McCartney (2002) as Self
  • The Virgin Mary (2002) as Self - Presenter
  • Waking the Dead (2001) as Dr. Grace Foley
  • My Uncle Silas (2001) as Mrs Betts
  • New Year's Day (2001) as Mrs. Fisher
  • Score (2001) as Maggie
  • Loose Women (1999) as Self
  • Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll (1999) as Irma
  • Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll (1999)
  • Finest Hour (1999) as Commentary
  • Parkinson (1998) as Self
  • The Royle Family (1998) as Barbara Royle
  • Duck Patrol (1998) as Val Rutland
  • The Jump (1998) as Maeve Brunos
  • Brookside: Friday the 13th (1998) as Sheila Grant
  • The Things You Do for Love: Against the Odds (1998) as Pat Phoenix
  • Crime Traveller (1997) as Detective Chief Inspector Kate Grisham
  • Preaching to the Perverted (1997) as Esmeralda
  • Face (1997) as Alice
  • Brookside: The Lost Weekend (1997) as Sheila Grant
  • Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996) as Helga Allowby
  • Brassed Off (1996) as Vera
  • Hollyoaks (1995) as Sheila Grant
  • Measure for Measure (1994) as Mistress Overdone
  • Full Stretch (1993) as Grace Robbins
  • Luv (1993)
  • A Touch of Frost (1992) as Phyllis Bowman
  • Bitter Harvest (1992) as Miriam Johnson
  • Goodbye Cruel World (1992) as Barbara Grade
  • Performance (1991) as Mistress Overdone
  • In Suspicious Circumstances (1991) as Edith Rosse
  • Medics (1990)
  • Inspector Morse (1987) as Mrs. Bailey
  • ScreenPlay (1986) as Miriam Johnson
  • Brookside (1982) as Sheila Grant
  • Today (1952) as Self
  • Bilby as Nancy