Matilda Ziegler

Matilda Florence Elizabeth Ziegler (born 23 July 1964) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Donna Ludlow in EastEnders, Irma Gobb in Mr. Bean, and Pearl Pratt in Lark Rise to Candleford.

Television and film career Ziegler's first screen role was in her early twenties, during 1987–1989: she appeared in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, playing Donna Ludlow, the illegitimate daughter of series regular Kathy Beale. Donna's tragic storylines included prostitution, an attempted gang rape, heroin addiction and finally her death from a heroin overdose. The final scenes of Ziegler's character, who had choked to death on her own vomit, have been hailed as one of the most powerful anti-drug images ever screened on the programme. She left EastEnders in April 1989.

In the early 1990s, Ziegler starred in the ITV comedy Mr. Bean, in which she played multiple characters, especially a three-episode stint as Irma Gobb, the title character's long-suffering girlfriend. She reprised her role as Gobb, voicing her in Mr. Bean: The Animated Series, from 2002 to 2004, and in the revived series from 2015 to 2019.

Other television credits include Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2010), in which she played the part of Pearl Pratt, in the BBC adaptation of Flora Thompson's novel; Harbour Lights (1999); Where the Heart Is (2000); Holby City (2003); An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1998); The Bill (2003); and Home, alongside Anthony Sher in an adaptation of J. G. Ballard's novel.

Ziegler played Ruth, wife of car salesman Toni, in the BBC sitcom Swiss Toni (2003–2004). She also appeared in the BAFTA Television Award-winning drama Sex Traffic (2004). In 2005, she played Christine Miller in the fourth series of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and in 2007, she guest-starred in the BBC One daytime medical drama Doctors as Jess Butler. She also appeared in Outnumbered, Lewis (in "The Soul of Genius", 2012), Death in Paradise (2013), and Vera (in the episode "Young Gods", 2013).

In 2015, she appeared in an episode of Foyle's War, and in series 4 episode of Call the Midwife. In 2020, she appeared in a second season episode of The Alienist, and appeared in two episodes of The Girlfriend Experience in 2021.

Ziegler's film roles include Decadence (1994), Jilting Joe (1998), City Slacker (2012), and The Rhythm Section (2019), in which she played Blake Lively's mother.

Stage and radio career Ziegler has appeared in many stage productions, including Twelfth Night for the Royal Shakespeare Company (2001); the theatrical version of Mr. Bean; Women Laughing at the Royal Court Theatre; Volpone, Inadmissible Evidence and Machinal, all at the National Theatre; Featuring Loretta and The Memory of Water – both at the Hampstead Theatre; The Lady from the Sea, Lyric Hammersmith/West Yorkshire Playhouse (1994: TMA Award, nomination for Laurence Olivier Award) and also starred as Sheila Birling in Stephen Daldry's award winning production of An Inspector Calls at the Aldwych Theatre and for the production's Australian tour, along with Lady Sneerwell in Deborah Warner's 2011 production of The School for Scandal at the Barbican Centre. She later appeared in Downstate in Chicago and at the National Theatre, a co production with Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Her radio work has included playing Dr Ruth Anderson in BBC Radio 4's Rigor Mortis (2004–2006). She also featured in Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off in 2010, and as Princess Theresa of Liechtenstein in the fourth series of Cabin Pressure in 2013, a role she reprised for the show's final episode in 2014. She had previously played an air traffic controller and a paramedic in the second episode of the first series.

Personal life In July 2004, Ziegler married actor Louis Hilyer; the couple have three children.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Decadence The Entourage 1998 Jilting Joe Rona McLaughty 2004 The Audition Pompous Woman Short film 2006 Talk Janice 2020 The Rhythm Section Monica Patrick 2022 Living Prim Lady

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987–1989 EastEnders Donna Ludlow 119 episodes 1990–1992 Mr. Bean The Waitress Episode: "The Return of Mr. Bean" Irma Gobb [Girlfriend] 3 episodes Policewoman Episode: "Mr. Bean Goes to Town" Woman at bus stop Episode: "Mr. Bean Rides Again"1991 Police Station Police Woman Television short The Bus Stop Mother 1993–2003 The Bill Monica Skinner / Helen Proctor 3 episodes 1994 Against All Odds: Lost and Found Amy Chadwick Television film 1995 My Good Friend Betty 7 episodes1996 In Suspicious Circumstances Beattie Pace Episode: "Who's Sorry Now?" Casualty Nula Snape Episode: "The Homecoming" 1997 Mr. White Goes to Westminster Labour Fixer Television film 1998 An Unsuitable Job for a Woman Hilary Hampson Episode: "A Last Embrace" 1999 Harbour Lights Jane Ford 10 episodes2000 Where the Heart Is Sally Episode: "No Regrets" Too Much Sun Sandi 6 episodes 2001 Armadillo Potts 1 episode 2002–present Mr. Bean: The Animated Series Irma Gobb (voice) 26 episodes2003 Holby City Andrea Rowlands Episode: "A Kind of Loving" Killing Hitler Mrs. Holmes Television film Home Paula Goddard 2003–2004 Swiss Toni Ruth / Ruth Gordon 15 episodes2004 Family Business Carol Sullivan 1 episode 15 Storeys High Karin Episode: "Errol's Women" Sex Traffic Lou Miniseries 2005 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Christine Miller 2 episodes2007 Outnumbered Kate Episode: "The Quiet Night In" Lead Balloon Fiona Episode: "Points" 2007, 2010 Doctors Jess Butler / Susan Oakley 2 episodes 2008–2011 Lark Rise to Candleford Pearl Pratt 36 episodes 2010 Summer in Transylvania Ms. Kubilikilik 2 episodes2012 Lewis Helena Wright Episode: "The Soul of Genius" The Poison Tree Alison Larch 1 episode 2013 Death in Paradise Janice Palmer Episode: "A Dash of Sunshine" Vera Mary Culvert Episode: "Young Gods"2015 Foyle's War Lady Ava Woolf Episode: "Trespass" Call the Midwife Dulcie Roland 1 episode 2020 The Alienist Mallory Hunter Episode: "Angel of Darkness: The Last Exit to Brooklyn" 2021 The Girlfriend Experience Dr. Lindbergh 2 episodes 2022 Miss Scarlet and The Duke Mary Dawson Episode: "A Pauper's Grave" 2023Maternal Becky Hillford 2024The Outlaws Judge Series 3; 4 episodes Grave" 2026Father Brown Mildred Granby Season 13, Episode 4: "The Crackpot and The Dummy"