Lorraine Ashbourne

• Name — Lorraine Ashbourne • Born — 7 January 1961 • Birthplace — Manchester, England • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1987–present • Children — 3, including Ruby and Louis Lorraine Ashbourne (born 7 January 1961) is an English actress.

Ashbourne was born on 7 January 1961, in Manchester, England. She attended Wilbraham High School, while 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 in 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 portrayed 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). Ashbourne plays Jess in the comedy-drama series Riot Women (2025–).

In 1987, Ashbourne dated actor Glyn Pritchard, who played chef Paul on Crossroads. She has been in a relationship with actor Andy Serkis since at least 1993, having toured together in a play at the Royal Exchange in 1989. Ashbourne married Serkis and they have three children, including actors Sonny, Ruby and Louis Ashbourne Serkis.

Key • Denotes works that have not yet been released

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 1987 — The — Tracy — "Brownie Points" • Casualty — Sandy — "Cry for Help" • 1988 — London's Burning — Sue — "1.2" • 1989 — Boon — Judy — "Big Game Hunt" • 1990 — The — Maria — "Something Special" • 1991 — Rich Tea and Sympathy — Karen Rudge — TV series • 1993 — Mr. Wroe's Virgins — Anne — "Leah's Story" • Fighting for Gemma — Susan D'Arcy — TV film • 1994 — The — Jenny Longden — "He Who Waits" • In Suspicious Circumstances — Ann Bailey — "Absence of Mercy" • Casualty — Teresa England — "Relations" • Three Seven Eleven — Sylvia Powers — "2.2", "2.3" • 1995 — Pie in the Sky — Maeve Cormack — "The Mild Bunch" • Chiller — Susan Taylor — "Number Six" • Peak Practice — Tina Greaves — "Life and Soul", "Other Lives" • 1996 — The — Shirley Briggs — "Too Close for Comfort" • 1998–2000 — City Central — Sgt. Yvonne Mackey — Main role • 1998–2002 — Playing the Field — Geraldine Powell — Main role • 2000 — A — Sue Cratchett — TV film • 2001 — In a Land of Plenty — Edna — TV series • 2002 — Clocking Off — Sally Preston — "Alan's Story" • 2003 — Love Again — Betty Mackereth — TV film • The — Anna Goodman — "1.3" • 2006 — Thin Ice — Eileen — TV miniseries • Jane Eyre — Mrs. Fairfax — TV miniseries • Housewife, 49 — Dot — TV film • 2007 — True Dare Kiss — Beth Sweeney — Main role • The — Cath Hanley — Episode: "Demolition", "Taxi" • 2009 — Lark Rise to Candleford — Lilly Spicer — "Episode 2.3" • Law & Order: UK — Maureen Walters — Episode: "Care" • Murderland — Rachel — TV miniseries • Victoria Wood's Mid Life Christmas — Catheter Finch — TV film • 2010 — Moving On — Treena — Episode: "I am Darleen Fyles" • Thorne — Ruth Brigstocke — Episode: "Sleepyhead", "Scaredycat" • Little Crackers — Miss Meadowcroft — "Victoria Wood's Little Cracker: The Giddy Kipper" • 2011 — Coming Up — Linda — Episode: "Rough Skin" • 2012 — New Tricks — Moira Wright — Episode: "Body of Evidence" • Public Enemies — Marion Sharmer — TV miniseries • The — June Juniper — "Episode 1.3" • Homefront — Cheryl Davies — TV miniseries • 2014 — Silent Witness — DI Rachel Klein — "Coup de Grace: Parts 1 & 2" • 2015 — Inside No. 9 — Carol — Episode: "Nana's Party" • The — Valerie — Main role • New Tricks — Vicky Collins — Episode: "The Crazy Gang" • London Spy — Mrs. Turner — TV miniseries • 2016 — Jericho — Lace Polly — Main role • 2017 — Unforgotten — DI Tessa Nixon — Main role (Series 2) • Grantchester — Cora Maguire — "3.5" • Maigret in Montmartre — Rosa Alfonsi — TV film • 2018 — Midsomer Murders — Daniella Bellini — "Send in the Clowns" • 2019 — The Crown — Barbara Castle — 6 episodes • 2020–present — Bridgerton — Mrs. Varley — Regular role • 2020–2024 — Alma's Not Normal — Joan Nuthall — 12 episodes • 2022–present — Sherwood — Daphne Sparrow — 12 episodes • 2022–2024 — I Hate Suzie — Karen — 4 episodes • 2024–2026 — After the Flood — Molly Marshall — 12 episodes • 2025–present — Riot Women — Jess — 6 episodes

Ashbourne's roles in the theatre include: • Miss Kate Hardcastle, She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1990) • She's in Your Hands by Georges Feydeau at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1990) • Jean, Your Home in the West by Rod Wooden at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991) • Crystal, Doctor Heart by Peter Muller at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991) • Rhoda Nunn, The Odd Women by Michael Meyer at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1992) • Grushenka,The Brothers Karamazov at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1993) • The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1994) • Viv, Babies by Jonathon Harvey at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1994) • Jocasta, The Phoenician Women by Euripides for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1995) • Miss Hoyden, The Relapse by John Vanburgh for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1995) • May, Fool For Love by Sam Shepherd at the Donmar Warehouse, London (1996) • Emilia, Othello at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (2002) • Olga, The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov at the National Theatre, London (2003) • Aunt Dan, Aunt Dan and Lemon by Wallace Shawn at the Royal Court Theatre, London (2009) • Aunty Carol, Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre, London (2024)