Claire Skinner

Claire Skinner (born 1965) Her dream was to be an actress and she immersed herself in her ambition. She acted, neglecting school work at Cavendish School, and "barely scraped through [her] A-levels".

Career Her first role was in Hanky Park, by Walter Greenwood at the Oldham Repertory Theatre, which she describes as a "really traditional start". She is best known as Clare on the British television comedy Life Begins and as Lucinda, the sous chef in the first series of Chef! alongside Lenny Henry. From 2007 to 2016, she portrayed Sue Brockman in the sitcom Outnumbered. Skinner reprised her role in a one-off special that aired at Christmas 2024. For many years, she has preferred theatre to screen roles because she has been disappointed with her TV projects ("apart from Mike Leigh's stuff"), "not just when you see the final thing, but also because it hasn't taken off."

Skinner has worked with directors including Mike Leigh – in Life Is Sweet, and Naked – Trevor Nunn, Tim Burton and Sam Mendes, but according to her, Alan Ayckbourn "was a great influence for me as he pushed me so hard, but every director you work with has a big influence in some way, they really push you."

She has made appearances in TV shows such as Lark Rise to Candleford where for two episodes she played Mrs Macey. She appeared in the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe".

In 2019, she played Sheila in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, which ran in Trafalgar Studios in the West End from September to November.

In 2026, she completed an MA/Masters by Research postgraduate degree in Drama and Theatre at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Personal life Skinner was previously married to director Charles Palmer, with whom she had two sons. Her marriage to Palmer ended in 2016. Since 2017, she has been in a relationship with her Outnumbered co-star Hugh Dennis. In 2025, it was revealed that the couple had married in 2022.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 The Rachel Papers Gloria 1990 Life Is Sweet Natalie 1993 Naked Sandra 1994 The Return of the Native Thomasin Yeobright Television film 1995 I.D. Marie Clockwork Mice Fairy 1999 You're Dead Jo Sleepy Hollow Beth Killian The Escort Patricia 2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Magda 2003 The Booze Cruise Leone Sewell Television film Eroica Countess Josephine von Deym Television film 2004 Strings Jhinna English version 2006 The Enlightenment Roxanne Short film 2007 The Trial of Tony Blair Nicky Television film You Can Choose Your Friends Jane Arden Television film And When Did You Last See Your Father? Gillian 2012 Act of Memory Mother Short film Shoot Me! Claire Short film Eliminate: Archie Cookson Camilla 2015 Elsewhere Jane Short film 2019 Isabel Mary Short film 2021 Boxing Day Caroline 2023 The Critic Mary Brooke 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Magda The Trial Dione Sinclair Television film

Television Year Show Role Notes 1988 South of the Border Laura Episode: "Series 1, Episode 7" 1989 Inspector Morse Girl Pupil Episode: "The Ghost in the Machine" 1992 Woof! Liz Episode: "Badgers" 1993 Chef! Lucinda Series regular; 7 episodes 1994 Screen One Linda Episode: "Two Golden Balls" 1995 Capital Lives Alice Episode: "In Cahoots" Coogan's Run Frances Episode: "The Curator" 1997 The Wingless Bird Agnes Conway Miniseries; 3 episodes Brass Eye Various Recurring role; 3 episodes A Dance to the Music of Time Jean Miniseries; 3 episodes 1997–2000 The Peter Principle Susan Harvey Series regular; 12 episodes 2000–2001 Second Sight DI Catherine Tully Series regular 2001 Perfect Strangers Rebecca Miniseries; 3 episodes Bedtime Sarah Newcombe Series regular; 6 episodes Swallow Gail Collins Miniseries; 2 episodes 2003 Trevor's World of Sport Meryl Series regular; 7 episodes 2004 The Genius of Mozart Nannerl Mozart Miniseries; 3 episodes Murphy's Law Alice Episode: "Go Ask Alice" 2004–2006 Life Begins Clare Series regular; 15 episodes 2005 Agatha Christie's Marple Amy Murgatroyd Episode: "A Murder Is Announced" Class of '76 Dr. Kate Tremaine Miniseries; 2 episodes 2006 The Family Man Natalie Simpson Miniseries; 3 episodes 2006–2007 Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic... Recurring role 2007 Kingdom Brenda Collins Episode: "Series 1, Episode 5" 2007–2024 Outnumbered Sue Brockman Series regular; 38 episodes 2008 Sense and Sensibility Fanny Dashwood Miniseries; 3 episodes Lark Rise to Candleford Mrs. Macey Recurring role; 2 episodes Burn Up Clare McConnell Miniseries; 2 episodes Agatha Christie's Poirot Miss Rich Episode: "Cat Among the Pigeons" The Commander Fiona Guest role; 3 episodes 2009 Trinity Dr Angela Donne Series regular; 8 episodes 2010 Moving On Mary Ann Episode: "Skies of Glass" 2011 Doctor Who Madge Arwell Episode: "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" 2012 Tilly and Friends Tumpty Recurring role Homefront Claire Marshbrook Miniseries; 6 episodes 2013 Playhouse Presents Linda Episode: "Mr Understood" 2014 Silk Sarah Stephens Episode: "Heavy Metal" 2015 Critical Lorraine Rappaport Series regular; 6 episodes Inside No. 9 Angela Episode: "Nana's Party" 2015–2017 Scream Street Various Recurring role 2016 Power Monkeys Sara Miniseries; 6 episodes 2017 Midsomer Murders Kitty Oswood Episode: "Death by Persuasion" 2018 Next of Kin DCI Vivien Barnes Miniseries; 6 episodes Vanity Fair Louisa Sedley Miniseries; 4 episodes 2018–2023 Hilda Various Series regular; 34 episodes 2020 The Pale Horse Yvonne Tuckerton Miniseries; 2 episodes 2021 Ted Lasso Dr Rogers Episode: "Carol of the Bells" 2022 Kate & Koji Amanda Episode: "Koji’s Date" Murder, They Hope Kerry Miniseries; 3 episodes 2022–2024 McDonald & Dodds Mary Ormond Series regular; 6 episodes 2023 The Chelsea Detective Charlotte Twist Episode: "The Reliable Witness" 2024 Coma Beth Henderson Miniseries; 4 episodes Inside No. 9 Party Guest Episode: "Plodding On" 2025 Riot Women Tricia Recurring role; 2 episodes The Lady June Andrews Miniseries

Radio

Five Beats to the Bar by Neil d'Souza, BBC Radio 4, (2002) Old Harry's Game—Christmas Special by Andy Hamilton on BBC Radio 4, (2002) Trevor's World of Sport by Andy Hamilton on BBC Radio 4, (2005, 2006, 2007) Oblomov (2005) The Light of Knowledge by Mya Hnuang Nyo, BBC Radio 4, (2005) Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, BBC Radio 4, (2005) Bed and Breakfast by Helen Simpson, BBC Radio 4, (2005) Not a Games Person, narrating Julie Myerson's play, BBC Radio 4, (2006) Sculptor's Daughter-Christmas, Snow, Pets and Females, and The Bays by Tove Jansson, BBC Radio 4, (2006) Standing Sideways, by Matt Charman, BBC Radio 4, (2006) Elizabeth and Her German Garden, by Elizabeth von Arnim, BBC Radio 4, (2006) School Runs, by Alexis Zegerman, BBC Radio 4, (2006) Jigsaw, by Sybille Bedford, BBC Radio 4, (2006, 2007) Poetry Please, reading poems by Percy Bysshe, Mary Shelley, John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Thomas Hardy, Philip Larkin, BBC Radio 4, (2007) Mrs. Warren's Profession, by George Bernard Shaw, BBC Radio 3, (2007) Bird Song BBC Radio 3, (2008) Don't Turn Around (radio short) by Marian Garvey, BBC Radio 4, (2008) Five Easy Ways with Chilli by Scarlett Thomas, BBC Radio 4, (2008) Lunch: A Platonic Romantic Comedy by Marcy Kahan, BBC Radio 4, (2013, 2014, 2015) The Father by Florian Zeller, BBC Radio 3, (2017) The Archers:Truth and Lies by David Payne, BBC Radio 4 (2026)

Theatre credits YearTitleRoleVenue Notes 1987 The Playboy of the Western World Sara Tansey Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Oldham 1989 The Revengers' Comedies Norma / Tracey Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 1990 Othello Desdemona Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough Taking Steps Kitty Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 1991 Invisible Friends Zara Cottesloe Theatre, London 1992 Measure for Measure Isabella Young Vic, London 1993 The Importance of Being Earnest Cecily Cardew Aldwych Theatre, London Moonlight Bridget Almeida Theatre, London 1995 Look Back in Anger Alison Porter Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester The Glass Menagerie Laura Wingfield Donmar Warehouse, London & Comedy Theatre, London 1998 Othello Desdemona Lyttelton Theatre, London 2001 The Winter's Tale Hermione Olivier Theatre, London 2009 Mrs. Affleck Rita Affleck Dorfman Theatre, London 2010 Deathtrap Myra Bruhl Noël Coward Theatre, London 2014 Blurred Lines Office Worker The Shed, London 2015 The Father Anne Kiln Theatre, London & Wyndham's Theatre, London 2016 Rabbit Hole Becca Hampstead Theatre, London 2017 Prism Nicola / Katharine Hepburn Hampstead Theatre, London 2018 Nightfall Jenny Bridge Theatre, London 2019 A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Sheila Trafalgar Studios, London 2022 The Narcissist Senator Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Awards 1992 – Won – Geneva Stars de Demain Best Actress for Life Is Sweet 1995 – Won – Critics' Circle Theatre Award Best Actress for The Glass Menagerie 1995 – Won – Time Out Award for Best Performance Off West End for The Glass Menagerie 1996 – Nominated – Laurence Olivier Award Best Supporting Performance for The Glass Menagerie 2009 – Nominated – BAFTA Best Comedy Performance for Outnumbered