Catherine Shepherd

Catherine Shepherd is an English actress, writer and director. She is known for her roles in Peep Show and Sally4Ever, and creating and writing Two Weeks in August.

Early life and education

Shepherd was born on 16 September 1975 in Hammersmith. She is the daughter of producer, Ann Scott, and actor Jack Shepherd. She attended James Allen's Girls' School in Dulwich, London, and read English and Italian at Edinburgh University.

Shepherd's twin sister, Victoria Shepherd attended the University of Cambridge and was part of the Footlights. Victoria is a historian and author of Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside (2026) and A History of Delusions (2023). She also created and produced the ten-part BBC Radio 4 series A History of Delusions, and has produced other documentaries and strands for the station.

Career

Acting In 2004 and 2015, Shepherd played the character April in the sitcom Peep Show.

Other credits include Paddington and Paddington 2 directed by Paul King, Harry and Paul's story of the 2s, Ruddy Hell it's Harry and Paul, The Comic Strip Presents Red Top, The IT Crowd, The Peter Serafinowicz Show, and the BBC comedy Twenty Twelve written by John Morton.

Sally4Ever (2018)

In 2018, Shepherd played the titular role of Sally in Sally4Ever, written and directed by Julia Davis. The series was a co-production between Sky Atlantic and HBO. It is a dark comedy about a woman, Sally, who is in a dead-end relationship with her fiancé David (played by Alex Macqueen), and embarks on an affair with actress/musician/dancer Emma (played by Julia Davis). The series also stars Julian Baratt, Mark Gatiss, Joanna Scanlan, Felicity Montagu, and Jamie Demetriou.

Davis said that "I’d always loved Catherine Shepherd, who plays Sally, because she’s so understated and precise. And she corpses a lot." The series started as a short film idea developed by Shepherd, Davis and Baratt. The writing process consisted of Davis and Shepherd improvising together, and Davis writing this up and honing it. On set, scenes were taken both on and off script.

The Guardian said that "Every slight movement of Catherine Shepherd's face should win its own Bafta award." Paste Magazine said that the "biggest surprise about Sally4Ever is just how great Shepherd is: It’s an understated performance of the highest order. In fact, understated might be an understatement."

Refinery29 called the series "disgustingly funny". The New Statesman said "Quite how a comedy can be at once so grotesque and so tender, so filthy and yet so plangent, I do not know. But it suits this (possibly slightly ill) viewer just fine." The Financial Times gave the series a four-star review, describing it as "fetid brilliance". Shepherd is set to direct Like a Virgin, which is being made with the BFI. Kate Ogborn is the producer. In 2015, it was announced that Gemma Arterton would star. The script was nominated for The Brit List 2011.

Two Weeks in August (2026)

Shepherd created and wrote the eight-part drama series Two Weeks in August. It was her first time writing a TV series, and was written over several years.

The series was aired on BBC One in 23rd May 2026, and streamed on BBC iPlayer.

Filmography

Television Series 2, All 6 episodes; Series 3, Episodes 1-6, Special

Radio Series 2, Episodes 1-6;

Series 4, Episode 1: "Eurotank" My difficult second albumBBC Scotland2003, Doctor Wansborough-Jones (Series 2)Series 2, Episode 1: "Citroen UXB";

Theatre YearTitleRoleOther RoleVenueNotesRef.Harry Enfield & Paul Whitehouse–Legends the Live TourMapping the citySarahFriends and familyVariousSoho Theatre StudioThe Edinburgh Comedy RevueCo-WriterEdinburgh Fringe / Pleasance TheatreC'est MagiqueCo-WriterGilded Balloon / Canal CaféOvertired and Showing OffCo-Writer, DirectorEdinburgh Fringe/Gilded BalloonDance With Me (Be Mine)Co-Writer, DirectorEdinburgh Fringe/Gilded BalloonFriends and FamilyCo-Writer, DirectorSoho TheatreYour Whole LifeCo-WriterTraverse TheatreWon a "Best of the Sunday Lizard" award

Audio In October 2018, Shepherd narrated the audiobook for Blue Sky Thinking by Ben Lewis.

Footnotes