
Acting · 65 years old
Manchester, England, UK
Lorraine Ashbourne (born 1961 in Manchester) is an English stage, film and television actress. She attended Wilbraham High School, when living in Fallowfield. She joined Stretford Children's Theatre. She took part in the University of Manchester Stage Society and Manchester Youth Theatre. She joined the Webber Drama School on 19 April 1982. Ashbourne has appeared on British series and television films, including: Playing the Field (1998), Unforgotten (2017), Grantchester (2017), Maigret in Montmartre (2017), Midsomer Murders (2018), The Street, and Jericho. As a stage actor, Lorraine regularly appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, portraying roles such as Kate Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer and Emilia in Othello, acting in both of these alongside her husband Andy Serkis. In 2019, she starred as Barbara Castle in The Crown (2019), and from 2020, she starred as Mrs. Varley in Bridgerton. She played Joan Nuthall in Alma's Not Normal (2020), and was Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood (2022). She played Karen in I Hate Suzie (2024), and appeared in After the Flood (2024)

National Theatre Live: Till The Stars Come Down
Aunty Carol

Lark Rise to Candleford

Pie in the Sky
Maeve Cormack

The Crown
Barbara Castle

Bridgerton
Mrs. Varley

Inside No. 9
Carol

A Street Cat Named Bob
Local Housing Officer

Jane Eyre
Mrs. Fairfax

Riot Women
Jess

A Christmas Carol
Mrs Cratchit (voice)

Unforgotten
DI Tessa Nixon

Silent Witness
Michelle Lafferty

Midsomer Murders
Daniella Bellini

Vera
Barbara Tullman

Breathe
First Woman

Alma's Not Normal
Joan

New Tricks
Moira Wright

The Selfish Giant
Mary

Moving On
Treena

I Used to Be Famous
Cheryl