Sarah Lancashire is an English actress whose career began in 1986. Lancashire's first acting roles were in local theatre, with small guest roles in television dramas and sitcoms. After coming to public attention with roles in popular programmes including Coronation Street (1991-1996, 2000), Where the Heart Is (1997–1999) and Clocking Off (2000), Lancashire signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network, appearing exclusively in ITV1 programming for the next two years. Lancashire has continued to work extensively across a variety of television drama genres, including guest appearances, regular roles in returning series and with featured roles in standalone miniseries' and television films. Her more prolific work includes the drama series' Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011), Last Tango in Halifax (2012-2020) and Happy Valley (2014, 2016, 2023). Lancashire has appeared in the feature films And When Did You Last See Your Father? and Dad's Army and has returned to West End Theatre several times since her 1990 stint in Blood Brothers. Her combined acting credits have earned Lancashire a number of awards and nominations over a career spanning four decades and a prominent status within the British Television Industry of the 21st century. Lancashire was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to drama.
Gentlemen's Relish
(Violtet Askey)
Exam Conditions
(Secretary)
Coronation Street - The Feature Length Special
(Raquel Watts)
Sons & Lovers
(Gertrude Morel)
When Did You Last See Your Father?
(Beaty)
Dad's Army
(Mrs. Pike)
The Dresser
(Madge)
Sex, the City and Me
(Ruth Gilbert)
Birthday Girl
(Rachel Jones)
Back Home
(Peggy Dickinson)
The Cry
(Meg Bartlet)
Seeing Red
(Coral Atkins)
Cherished
(Angela Cannings)
Angel Cake
(Elaine Wilson)
Fair Cop: A Century of British Policewomen
(Narrator)
The First Film
(Lizze Le Prince (voice))
Yesterday
(Liz (Liverpool Stranger))
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
(Margaret New)
My Fragile Heart
(Trina Lavery)
Christmas at St Paul's
In Search of Tony Blair
(Self (Narrator))
Where the Heart Is
(Ruth Goddard)
Murder Most Horrid
(Karen Sullivan)
Skins
(Mary)
The One Show
(Self - Guest)
Chambers
Julia
(Julia Child)
Lark Rise to Candleford
(Adult Laura)
Wuthering Heights
(Nelly Dean)
Oliver Twist
Rose and Maloney
Angel Cake
The Rotters' Club
(Barbara Chase)
Five Daughters
(Rosemary Nicholls)
Last Tango in Halifax
(Caroline)
Doctor Who
(Miss Foster)
Happy Valley
(Catherine Cawood)
The Paradise
(Miss Audrey)
Alan Bennett's Talking Heads
(Gwen)
Clocking Off
(Yvonne Kolakowski)
About Face
The Glass
(Carol Parker)
Black Doves
(Reed)
Oliver Twist
(Mrs. Corney)
Kiri
(Miriam Grayson)
Going Live!
(Self)
All the Small Things
(Esther Caddick)
Coronation Street
(Raquel Watts)
Coronation Street
(Raquel Wolstenhulme / Raquel Watts)
Bloomin' Marvellous
(Liz Deakin)
The Accident
(Polly Bevan)
Happy Valley
The Cry
(Meg Bartlett)
School of Roars
(Mrs. Twirlyhorn)