Claire Rushbrook
Claire Louise Rushbrook (born 25 August 1971) is an English actress. Her films include Secrets & Lies (1996) and Ali & Ava (2021). On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC One series The Sins (2000), Carrie & Barry (2004–2005) and Sherwood (2022–), the ITV series Whitechapel (2009–2013) and Home Fires (2015–2016), the E4 series My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015), and the Disney+ series Rivals (2024–).
Also recorded as Claire Louise Rushbrook
Claire Rushbrook

Amy Martin Photography · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Claire Rushbrook
- Born
- 25 August 1971
- Birthplace
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England
- Occupation
- Actress
- Education
- Rose Bruford College
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
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Claire Louise Rushbrook (born 25 August 1971) is an English actress. Her films include Secrets & Lies (1996) and Ali & Ava (2021). On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC One series The Sins (2000), Carrie & Barry (2004–2005) and Sherwood (2022–), the ITV series Whitechapel (2009–2013) and Home Fires (2015–2016), the E4 series My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015), and the Disney+ series Rivals (2024–).
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Claire Rushbrook • Born — 25 August 1971 • Birthplace — Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England • Occupation — Actress • Education — Rose Bruford College • Years Active — 1994–present
Early life
Early life
Claire Louise Rushbrook was born on 25 August 1971 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. She attended Fearnhill School, in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, until 1989, before joining Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance, for three years, to study for a BA Hons degree in Theatre Art.
Career
Career
Rushbrook worked mainly in theatre for around five years before moving into film and television. She guest starred in the episodes "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit" in Doctor Who and had supporting roles in films Secrets & Lies and Spice World. Her Doctor Who guest star status earned her a position in a Doctor Who celebrity edition of The Weakest Link, but ended up being the fourth one voted off. She also appeared in the 2008 BBC comedy drama Mutual Friends, and the 2009 ITV1 dramas Whitechapel, and Collision, both alongside Phil Davis. Rushbrook's theatre credits include West End productions of Three Sisters as Olga, and Festen as Helene. Other stage roles include Mary Warren in The Crucible (Sheffield Crucible theatre), Sonia in Uncle Vanya (Almeida Theatre), Mum in Market Boy (National Theatre), and Maggie in Middle (National Theatre). Her films include Mike Leigh's Secrets & Lies (1996), and Carine Adler's Under the Skin (1997) with Samantha Morton. On television, she has starred in The Sins (2000), Linda Green (2001–02), the sitcom Carrie & Barry (2004–05). From 2013 to 2015, she played Linda Earl-Bouchtat, Rae's Mum, in the television series My Mad Fat Diary, for which she received a 2014 nomination for BAFTA Best Supporting Actress. In 2016, she appeared in Home Fires (2015–16), in 2020, she worked alongside Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill in Enola Holmes (as Mrs Lane) and with Saoirse Ronan in the film Ammonite. In 2021, she starred opposite Adeel Akhtar in the British film Ali & Ava. In 2021, Rushbrook played Laurie in BBC Radio 4 drama Jazz and Dice. In 2023 she guest starred in "Love is a Stranger", episode 4 of the eighth series of the BBC's dark comedy anthology, Inside No. 9.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1994 — Casualty — Policewoman — Episode: "Love and Affection" • 1997 — Turning World — Julia Garnett — 3 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.2", "#1.3" • Touching Evil — Julie Carney — 2 episodes: "Killing with Kindness: Parts 1 & 2" • 1999 — Coronation Street — Mrs. Barratt — 2 episodes • Spaced — Yolanda — Episode: "Art" • Shockers — Terri — Episode: "The Visitor" • 2000 — The — Faith Blackwell — TV miniseries, 6 episodes • 2001–2002 — Linda Green — Michelle Fenton — Recurring role, 10 episodes • 2002 — The — Elaine Massey Simmons — TV film • 2004 — Family Business — Rachel Brooker — Recurring role, 6 episodes • 2004–2005 — Carrie & Barry — Carrie — Main role, 12 episodes • 2006 — Doctor Who — Ida Scott — 2 episodes: "The Impossible Planet", and "The Satan Pit" • Afterlife — Jennifer — Episode: "Things Forgotten" • 2007 — Inspector George Gently — Valerie Lister — Episode: "Gently Go Man" • Double Time — Sarah — TV film • 2008 — Ashes to Ashes — Trixie Walsh — Episode: "#1.3" • Mutual Friends — Leigh Cato — Main role, 6 episodes • 2009 — New Tricks — Pamela Scott — Episode: "Death of a Timeshare Salesman" • Enid — Dorothy Richards — TV film • Collision — Karen Donnelly — TV miniseries, 4 episodes • 2009–2013 — Whitechapel — Dr. Caroline Llewellyn — Recurring role, 16 episodes • 2010 — Lizzie and Sarah — Fiona — TV film • Agatha Christie's Marple — Caroline — Episode: "The Blue Geranium" • 2011 — The — Meg — TV miniseries, 6 episodes • Great Expectations — Mrs. Joe — TV miniseries, 2 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.2" • 2012 — Murder — Ellen Lowell — TV miniseries, episode: "Joint Enterprise" • Mrs Biggs — Ruby Wright — 2 episodes: "#1.2", "#1.3" • 2013 — The — Mrs. Timperley — TV miniseries, 4 episodes • 2013–2015 — My Mad Fat Diary — Linda Earl-Bouchtat (Rae's Mum) — Main role, 16 episodes • 2015–2016 — Home Fires — Pat Simms — Main role, 12 episodes • 2017 — Genius — Pauline Einstein — Recurring role, 4 episodes • Black Mirror — Police Detective — Episode: "Crocodile" • Death in Paradise — Rachel Baldwin — Episode: "Man Overboard: Part 1" • 2018 — Requiem — Rose Morgan — Main role, 6 episodes • Kiri — Julie Burnett — Recurring role, 3 episodes • No Offence — DCI Marilyn Marchant — Main role, Series 3, 6 episodes • The Split — Emma Graham — Episode: "1.4" • 2019 — Don't Forget the Driver — Fran — TV miniseries, main role, 6 episodes • Temple — Gloria Wilson — Main role, 5 episodes • 2022 — Magpie Murders — Katie Williams — 5 episodes • 2022- — Sherwood — Cathy Rowley — Main role • 2023 — Inside No. 9 — Vicky — Episode 4: "Love is a Stranger" • Wilderness — Caryl — Recurring role, 6 episodes • 2024 — Moonflower Murders — Katie Williams — Post-production • A Very Royal Scandal — Sarah, Duchess of York — 3 episodes • Rivals — Monica, Lady Baddingham — Recurring role, 8 episodes
Radio
Radio
• Date — Title — Role — Director — Station • The Sound of Solitary Waves — Libby — Claire Grove — BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play • Time Breathes — Gemma — Claire Grove — BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play • Love Contract — Emma — Claire Grove — BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play • – — Matilda — Mrs. Wormwood — Claire Grove — BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial • – — Home Front — Florrie Wilson — Lucy Collingwood — BBC Radio 4
Personal life
Personal life
She and her husband have been married since 2003 and have two children.

Rivals cast and crew at premier at SXSW London 2026
Amy Martin Photography

Rivals cast and crew at premiere at at SXSW London 2026
Amy Martin Photography
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1996 — Secrets & Lies — Roxanne • 1997 — Under the Skin — Rose Kelly • Crocodile Snap — Mum — Short film • Spice World — Deborah • 1999 — Plunkett & Macleane — Lady Estelle • 2000 — Shiner — Ruth • 2002 — Close Your Eyes — Grace — AKA Doctor Sleep • 2003 — A — Anne Marie — Short film • Tethered — Sarah — Short film • 2007 — I Am Bob — Barlady — Short film • Mary and Mick — Mary — Short film • 2019 — Spider-Man: Far From Home — Janice • 2020 — Ammonite — Eleanor Butters • Enola Holmes — Mrs. Lane • 2021 — Ali & Ava — Ava • 2023 — The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry — Farmer's Wife • Sky Peals — Donna
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,409 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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