Sophie Thompson

Sophie Thompson (born 20 January 1962) is a British actress. She has worked in film, television and theatre and she won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the London revival of Into the Woods. She has been nominated for Olivier Awards six other times: for Wildest Dreams, Company (1996), Clybourne Park (2011), Guys and Dolls (2016), Present Laughter (2020), and When We Are Married (2026).

Thompson's film appearances include Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Persuasion (1995), Emma (1996), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), Gosford Park (2001) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). Her television roles include playing Stella Crawford in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2006–2007) and Rosemary Piper in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2018).

Life and work

Early life, training and early career Thompson was born on 20 January 1962 in West Hampstead, London and grew up there. She is the daughter of actress Phyllida Law, and actor Eric Thompson. She is the younger sister of actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson.

In 1979, Thompson made her professional theatre debut at the age of 17 in the play The Schoolmistress by Arthur Wing Pinero at the Royal Exchange in Manchester.

Film Big-screen roles include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Her recent television credits include Detectorists, Professor Branestawm, A Gert Lush Christmas, Jericho, Coronation Street (2018) and Inside No. 9.

Theatre She played Ophelia in the Renaissance Theatre Company production of Hamlet in 1988 in Birmingham, later touring England with the production.

In 1996, Thompson appeared as Amy in Sam Mendes' acclaimed Donmar Warehouse revival of Company, receiving an Olivier Award nomination for her performance. They have two sons: Ernie James Lumsden born in 1997, and Walter Ernest Thompson, born in 2000.

Thompson has been an active charity ambassador over the years for Dan's Fund For Burns. She also ran the 2010 Marathon for CINI, a charity supporting vulnerable families in India, and 24th Tottenham, a London-based group for children and young adults with special needs. She is also a patron of the charity Firefly International.

Acting credits Film

Television

A Traveller in Time (1978) ... Penelope; 5 episodes Hammer House of Horror (1980) ... First Girl in "Guardian of the Abyss"; Casualty (1987) ... Judy Wilson in "Cross Fingers"; 1 episode Boon (1991) ... Vicky 'Mouthpiece' in "Help Me Make It Through the Night"; 1 episode The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (1992) ... Agatha in "The Master Blackmailer" Comedy Playhouse (1993) ... Val in "The Complete Guide to Relationships" Performance (1994) ... Gillian Player in "Message for Posterity" Nelson's Column (1994–1995) ... Clare Priddy Mr. Bean (1995) ... Girlfriend "Torvill and Bean"; 1 episode The Railway Children (2000) ... Mrs Perks So What Now? (2001) ... Heather Jonathan Creek (2003) ... Dorothy Moon in "Angel Hair"; 1 episode The Young Visiters (2003) ... Bessie Topp Midsomer Murders (2006) ... April Gooding in "Dead Letters"; 1 episode Magnolia (2006) ... Marjorie Forsyth A Harlot's Progress (2006) ... Jane Hogarth Doctors (2006) ... Rachel Barton in "Rabbitgate"; 1 episode EastEnders (2006–2007) ... Stella Crawford A Room with a View (2007) ... Charlotte Bartlett Big Top (2009) ... Aunty Helen May Contain Nuts (2009) ... Sarah McDonald Doc Martin (2009) ... Tasha Agatha Christie's Poirot (2010) ... Mrs Reynolds in "Hallowe’en Party" Whistle and I'll Come to You (2010) ... Carol, the hotel proprietor Love Life (2012) ... Penny Lightfields (2013) ... Lorna Death in Paradise (2014) ... Angela ; 1 episode Inside No. 9 (2014) ... Jan in "Last Gasp" Detectorists (2014–2015, 2017, 2022) ... Sheila Celebrity MasterChef (2014) ... Herself/series winner The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm (2014) ... Aggie Harry Hill in Professor Branestawm Returns (2015) ... Aggie A Gert Lush Christmas (2015) ... Sue Colman Bounty Hunters (2017) ... Fiona Ratburger (2017) ... Miss Maxwell Coronation Street (2018) ... Rosemary Piper, recurring role Ghosts (2019 TV series) (2019) ... Bunny Beg-Chetwynd Sandylands (2020) ... Jeannie Swallows Feel Good (2020) ... Maggie Sex Education (2021) ... Carol Iglehart The Flatshare (2022) ... Katherine Silo (2023) ... Gloria Hildebrandt Sisters (2023) ... Sheryl

Theatre

Hamlet ... Ophelia; Renaissance Theatre Company; 1988 As You Like It ... Rosalind; Royal Shakespeare Company; 1989–1990 All's Well That Ends Well ... Helena; Royal Shakespeare Company; 1992–1993 Wildest Dreams ... Royal Shakespeare Company; 1993–1994 (Olivier nomination) Company ... Amy; Donmar/Albery; 1996 (Olivier nomination) Into the Woods ... The Baker's Wife; Donmar; 1998–1999 (Olivier Award) Measure For Measure ... Isabella; Globe Theatre, London; 2004 Female of the Species ... London; 2008 (Theatre goers choice award) Clybourne Park ... Bev/Kathy; Royal Court Theatre, London; 2010 (Olivier Nomination, Evening Standard nomination) She Stoops to Conquer ... Mrs Hardcastle; National Theatre, London; 2012 Guys and Dolls ... Miss Adelaide; Chichester Festival Theatre, Tour and Savoy Theatre, London; 2015–2016 (Olivier nomination) The Importance of Being Earnest ... Lady Bracknell; Vaudeville Theatre, London; 2018 Present Laughter ... Monica Reed; The Old Vic, London; 2019 (Olivier nomination)