Lorraine Ashbourne

Early life and education

Ashbourne was born on 7 January 1961, in Manchester, England.

She attended Wilbraham High School, while living in Fallowfield. She joined Stretford Children's Theatre. She took part in the University of Manchester Stage Society and Manchester Youth Theatre. She joined the Webber Drama School on 19 April 1982.

Career

Ashbourne has appeared on British series and television films, including: Playing the Field (1998), Unforgotten (2017), Grantchester (2017), Maigret in Montmartre (2017), Midsomer Murders (2018), The Street, and Jericho.

As a stage actor, Lorraine regularly appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, portraying roles such as Kate Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer and Emilia in Othello, acting in both of these alongside her husband Andy Serkis.

In 2019, she portrayed Barbara Castle in The Crown (2019) and, from 2020, she starred as Mrs. Varley in Bridgerton. She played Joan Nuthall in Alma's Not Normal (2020), and was Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood (2022). She played Karen in I Hate Suzie (2024), and appeared in After the Flood (2024).

Ashbourne plays Jess in the comedy-drama series Riot Women (2025–).

Personal life

In 1987, Ashbourne dated actor Glyn Pritchard, who played chef Paul on Crossroads.

She has been in a relationship with actor Andy Serkis since at least 1993, having toured together in a play at the Royal Exchange in 1989. Ashbourne married Serkis and they have three children, including actors Ruby and Louis Ashbourne Serkis.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage work

Ashbourne's roles in the theatre include:

• Miss Kate Hardcastle, She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1990)
• She's in Your Hands by Georges Feydeau at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1990)
• Jean, Your Home in the West by Rod Wooden at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991)
• Crystal, Doctor Heart by Peter Muller at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1991)
• Rhoda Nunn, The Odd Women by Michael Meyer at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1992)
• Grushenka,The Brothers Karamazov at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (1993)
• The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1994)
• Viv, Babies by Jonathon Harvey at the Royal Court Theatre, London (1994)
• Jocasta, The Phoenician Women by Euripides for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1995)
• Miss Hoyden, The Relapse by John Vanburgh for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1995)
• May, Fool For Love by Sam Shepherd at the Donmar Warehouse, London (1996)
• Emilia, Othello at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (2002)
• Olga, The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov at the National Theatre, London (2003)
• Aunt Dan, Aunt Dan and Lemon by Wallace Shawn at the Royal Court Theatre, London (2009)
• Aunty Carol, Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre, London (2024)

References

References

1. "Lorraine Ashbourne". rottentomatoes.com.
2. ''Manchester Evening News'' Friday 16 April 1982, page 6
3. ''Manchester Evening News'' Thursday 21 December 1989, page 23
4. ''Manchester Evening News'' Friday 29 January 1982, page 14
5. Arabella Horspool. (30 August 2024). "Lorraine Ashbourne's Best TV Shows and Famous Husnband". yours.co.uk.
6. "Lorraine Ashbourne Credits". tvguide.com.
7. "“Riot Women is a rebellious cry against middle-aged irrelevance”".
8. ''Manchester Evening News'' Thursday 26 February 1987, page 40
9. ''Manchester Evening News'' Tuesday 11 May 1993, page 8
10. Nicholson, Rebecca. (26 December 2024). "'I get spotted in the M&S knicker department': Lorraine Ashbourne on her 2024 TV takeover". The Guardian.
11. Hibbs, James. (19 January 2025). "Who is Louis Ashbourne Serkis? Meet Johnny actor in Out There". Radio Times.
12. [[Braham Murray. Murray, Braham]] (2007). ''The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster''. London: Methuen Drama. {{ISBN. 978-0-7136-8490-2.
13. The Royal Exchange Theatre Company Words & Pictures 1976-1998, 1998, {{ISBN. 0-9512017-1-9