Claire Skinner

Early life

Claire Skinner was born and brought up in Hemel Hempstead, the youngest daughter of a shopkeeper and an Irish-born secretary, and was shy as a child. 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". She went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

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.

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

Television

Theatre

• The Playboy of the Western World by J. M. Synge
• The Revengers' Comedies by Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Joseph Theatre, (1989)
• Taking Steps-Revival by Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Joseph Theatre, (1990)
• Invisible Friends by Alan Ayckbourn, Cottlesloe Theatre, National Theatre, (1991)
• Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, Young Vic Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, (1992)
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, (1993)
• Moonlight, by Harold Pinter, London's West End, (1993)
• Look Back in Anger, by John Osborne, Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1995)
• Charley's Aunt, by Brandon Thomas, Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1995)
• The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Donmar Warehouse and Comedy Theatre, (1995)
• Othello by William Shakespeare, Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, (1997)
• The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare, Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, (2001)
• Mrs. Affleck, National Theatre, (2009)
• Deathtrap by Ira Levin, Noël Coward Theatre (2010)
• Blurred Lines, National Theatre, (2014)
• The Father by Florian Zeller, Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Tricycle Theatre (2015)
• Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire, Hampstead Theatre (2016)
• Prism by Terry Johnson, Hampstead Theatre (2017)
• Nightfall by Barney Norris, Bridge Theatre Productions, Bridge Theatre (2018)
• A Day in The Death of Joe Egg by Peter Nichols, Trafalgar Studios (2019)

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)

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

References

References

1. (1 September 2010). "Claire Skinner".
2. "Claire Skinner – National Portrait Gallery".
3. Bassett, Kate. (25 January 2009). "Mommy dearest: Claire Skinner transforms into a monster of a mother". [[The Independent]].
4. Brennan, Patricia. (4 December 1994). "A Beauty, a Rogue and a Good Man". The Washington Post.
5. (May 2001). "The Family Way: Claire Skinner warms to her role in Poliakoff's new drama.". Time Out–London: Plugged In section, by Emma Perry.
6. (2000). "BBC The Boss Series Press Release". BBC.
7. (25 December 2011). "Doctor Who, Christmas special, BBC One, review". The Daily Telegraph.
8. Galton, Bridget. (2 October 2019). "Preview – A Day in the Death of Joe Egg". Ham&High.
9. (13 August 2021). "That Christmas episode wasn't part of the plan. How 'Ted Lasso' pulled it off".
10. "Bill Skinner {{!}} Actor".
11. (20 September 2015). "Claire Skinner: '50 does not look like a woman in a cardigan'". The Observer.
12. (2 May 2020). "Outnumbered actress Claire Skinner confirms romance with co-star Hugh Dennis".
13. Todd, Lucy. (2 July 2018). "Six on-screen turned real-life couples". BBC News.
14. Bashforth, Emily. (2 March 2025). "Outnumbered couple Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner secretly married in real life three years ago". [[Metro (British newspaper).
15. Rowan, Iona. (6 May 2025). "Chilling new UK drama with adored cast of actors sets release date with tense first-look trailer".
16. "Mrs.Affleck: National Theatre (2009)".
17. "Blurred Lines". National Theatre.
18. "The Father {{!}} Tricycle".
19. (December 2011). ["Mike Leigh, film and television credits"](http://newstalkradiowhio.com/common/movies/notes/42974-1-full.html}}{{Dead link).
20. "Critics' Circle Theatre Awards for 1995". [[Albemarle of London]].
21. "Donmar Warehouse List of Awards for The Glass Menagerie-Time Out Award for 1995".
22. "Olivier Winners 1996".
23. (24 March 2009). "BAFTA 2009".