Claire Skinner

Last updated

Claire Skinner
Born1965 (age 6061)
Alma mater London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1988–present
Spouses
  • (m. 2001;div. 2016)
  • (m. 2022)
Children2

Claire Skinner (born 1965) [2] [3] is an English actress, known in the United Kingdom for her television career, particularly playing Sue Brockman from the BBC television series Outnumbered . She is also known for her collaboration with director Mike Leigh on two of his films, Life is Sweet (1990) and Naked (1993).

Contents

Early life

Claire Skinner was born and brought up in Hemel Hempstead, the youngest daughter of a shopkeeper and an Irish-born secretary, and was shy as a child. [4] Her dream was to be an actress and she immersed herself in her ambition. She acted, neglecting school work at Cavendish School, and "barely scraped through [her] A-levels". [4] She went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. [5]

Career

Her first role was in Hanky Park, by Walter Greenwood at the Oldham Repertory Theatre, which she describes as a "really traditional start". She is best known as Clare on the British television comedy Life Begins and as Lucinda, the sous chef in the first series of Chef! alongside Lenny Henry. From 2007 to 2016, she portrayed Sue Brockman in the sitcom Outnumbered . Skinner reprised her role in a one-off special that aired at Christmas 2024. For many years, she has preferred theatre to screen roles because she has been disappointed with her TV projects ("apart from Mike Leigh's stuff"), "not just when you see the final thing, but also because it hasn't taken off." [6]

Skinner has worked with directors including Mike Leigh – in Life Is Sweet , and Naked Trevor Nunn, Tim Burton and Sam Mendes, but according to her, Alan Ayckbourn "was a great influence for me as he pushed me so hard, but every director you work with has a big influence in some way, they really push you." [7]

She has made appearances in TV shows such as Lark Rise to Candleford where for two episodes she played Mrs Macey. She appeared in the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe". [8]

In 2019, she played Sheila in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg , which ran in Trafalgar Studios in the West End from September to November. [9]

Personal life

Skinner was previously married to director Charles Palmer, with whom she had two sons. [10] [11] [3] Her marriage to Palmer ended in 2016. [12] Since 2017, she has been in a relationship with her Outnumbered co-star Hugh Dennis. [13] In 2025, it was revealed that the couple had married in 2022. [14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1989 The Rachel Papers Gloria [15]
1990 Life Is Sweet Natalie [16]
1993 Naked Sandra [17]
1994 The Return of the Native Thomasin YeobrightTelevision film [18]
1995 I.D. Marie [19]
Clockwork Mice Fairy [20]
1999 You're Dead Jo [21]
Sleepy Hollow Beth Killian [22]
The EscortPatricia [23]
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Magda [24]
2003 The Booze Cruise Leone SewellTelevision film [25]
Eroica Countess Josephine von Deym Television film [26]
2004 Strings JhinnaEnglish version [27]
2006The EnlightenmentRoxanneShort film
2007 The Trial of Tony Blair NickyTelevision film [28]
You Can Choose Your FriendsJane ArdenTelevision film [29]
And When Did You Last See Your Father? Gillian [30]
2012 Act of Memory MotherShort film [31]
Shoot Me!ClaireShort film [32]
Eliminate: Archie CooksonCamilla [33]
2015ElsewhereJaneShort film [34]
2019IsabelMaryShort film [35]
2021 Boxing Day Caroline [36]
2023 The Critic Mary Brooke [37]
2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Magda [38]
The Trial Dione SinclairTelevision film [39]

Television

YearShowRoleNotesRef.
1988 South of the Border LauraEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 7" [40]
1989 Inspector Morse Girl PupilEpisode: "Ghost in the Machine" [41]
1992 Woof! LizEpisode: "Badgers" [42]
1993 Chef! LucindaSeries regular; 7 episodes [43]
1994 Screen One LindaEpisode: "Two Golden Balls" [44]
1995Capital LivesAliceEpisode: "In Cahoots"
Coogan's Run FrancesEpisode: "The Curator" [45]
1997 The Wingless Bird Agnes ConwayMiniseries; 3 episodes [46]
Brass Eye VariousRecurring role; 3 episodes [47]
A Dance to the Music of Time JeanMiniseries; 3 episodes [48]
1997–2000 The Peter Principle Susan HarveySeries regular; 12 episodes [49]
2000–2001 Second Sight DI Catherine TullySeries regular [50]
2001 Perfect Strangers RebeccaMiniseries; 3 episodes [51]
Bedtime Sarah NewcombeSeries regular; 6 episodes [52]
SwallowGail CollinsMiniseries; 2 episodes [53]
2003 Trevor's World of Sport MerylSeries regular; 7 episodes [54]
2004The Genius of Mozart Nannerl Mozart Miniseries; 3 episodes [55]
Murphy's Law AliceEpisode: "Go Ask Alice" [56]
2004–2006 Life Begins ClareSeries regular; 15 episodes [57]
2005 Agatha Christie's Marple Amy MurgatroydEpisode: "A Murder Is Announced" [58]
Class of '76 Dr. Kate TremaineMiniseries; 2 episodes [59]
2006 The Family Man Natalie SimpsonMiniseries; 3 episodes [60]
2006–2007 Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic... N/aRecurring role [61]
2007 Kingdom Brenda CollinsEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 5" [62]
2007–2024 Outnumbered Sue BrockmanSeries regular; 38 episodes [63]
2008 Sense and Sensibility Fanny Dashwood Miniseries; 3 episodes [64]
Lark Rise to Candleford Mrs. MaceyRecurring role; 2 episodes [65]
Burn Up Clare McConnellMiniseries; 2 episodes [66]
Agatha Christie's Poirot Miss RichEpisode: "Cat Among the Pigeons" [67]
The Commander FionaGuest role; 3 episodes [68]
2009 Trinity Dr Angela DonneSeries regular; 8 episodes [69]
2010 Moving On Mary AnnEpisode: "Skies of Glass" [70]
2011 Doctor Who Madge ArwellEpisode: "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" [71]
2012Tilly and FriendsTumptyRecurring role [72]
Homefront Claire MarshbrookMiniseries; 6 episodes [73]
2013 Playhouse Presents LindaEpisode: "Mr Understood" [74]
2014 Silk Sarah StephensEpisode: "Heavy Metal" [75]
2015 Critical Lorraine RappaportSeries regular; 6 episodes [76]
Inside No. 9 AngelaEpisode: "Nana's Party" [77]
2015–2017 Scream Street VariousRecurring role [78]
2016 Power Monkeys SaraMiniseries; 6 episodes [79]
2017 Midsomer Murders Kitty OswoodEpisode: "Death by Persuasion" [80]
2018Next of KinDCI Vivien BarnesMiniseries; 6 episodes [81]
Vanity Fair Louisa SedleyMiniseries; 4 episodes [82]
2018–2023 Hilda VariousSeries regular; 34 episodes [83]
2020 The Pale Horse Yvonne TuckertonMiniseries; 2 episodes [84]
2021 Ted Lasso Dr RogersEpisode: "Carol of the Bells" [85]
2022 Kate & Koji AmandaEpisode: "Koji’s Date" [86]
Murder, They Hope KerryMiniseries; 3 episodes [87]
2022–2024 McDonald & Dodds Mary OrmondSeries regular; 6 episodes [88]
2023 The Chelsea Detective Charlotte TwistEpisode: "The Reliable Witness" [89]
2024 Coma Beth HendersonMiniseries; 4 episodes [90]
Inside No. 9 Party GuestEpisode: "Plodding On" [91]
2025 Riot Women TriciaRecurring role; 2 episodes [92]
The Lady June AndrewsMiniseries [93]

Theatre

Radio

Awards

References

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