Sue Johnston
Known for acting · Born 7 December 1943 · 82 · Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK
106 credits
Susan Johnston, OBE (née Wright; born 7 December 1943) is an English actress known for playing Sheila Grant in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1982–1990), Barbara Royle in the BBC comedy The Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006, 2008–2010, 2012), Grace Foley in the BBC drama Waking the Dead (2000–2011), Gloria Price in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2012–2014) and Miss Denker in the ITV drama Downton Abbey (2014–2015). She won the 2000 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress and was nominated for the 2000 BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance for The Royle Family.
Known for
Brookside
1982
Waking the Dead
2001
Downton Abbey
2010
The Royle Family
1998
Little Dorrit
2008
Medics
1990
Help
2021
Jam and Jerusalem
2006
Imagine Me & You
2006
Golden Years
2016
Luv
Luv
1993
Brassed Off
1996
Acting (106)
2026Ann DroidSue · 6 episodesSeries
2026Welcome to BoroviaMatrashkaFilm
2026The Broken ArrowMrs. BarnesFilm
2025Fackham HallGreat Aunt BonaparteFilm
2025StuffedLilyFilm
2025Big WinnersEdith ThistleFilm
2025Dexter ProcterGranny BetSeries
2025Play for TodayEdith ThistleSeries
2024Generation ZCecily · 6 episodesSeries
2024TrueloveMarion · 6 episodesSeries
2024The Big Snow of '47Self - Narrator (voice)Film
2024Ricky, Sue & a Trip or TwoHerself · 3 episodesSeries
2023Caroline Aherne: Queen of ComedySelfFilm
2023Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle FamilyBarbara Royle (archive footage)Film
2023The Royle Family - Down the Back of the SofaSelf / Barbara Royle (archive footage)Film
2022Downton Abbey: A New EraGladys DenkerFilm
2022The ResponderMadgeSeries
2021TimeJune Cobden · 3 episodesSeries
2021HelpGloriaFilm
2021Robbo: The Bryan Robson StorySelfFilm
2021Kensington Palace: Behind Closed DoorsNarrator · 2 episodesSeries
2021Taskmaster’s New Year TreatSelfSeries
2020David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV StarNarratorFilm
2019The CockfieldsSue · 9 episodesSeries
2019Celebrity Gogglebox · 2 episodesSeries
2019The CureBella BaileyFilm
2019DNA JourneySelfSeries
2018Death on the TyneColleenFilm
2018Walk Like a PantherGladysFilm
2018Age Before BeautyIvy-Rae Regan · 6 episodesSeries
2017Harry Hill's Alien Fun CapsuleSelfSeries
2017Shannon Matthews: What Happened NextSelf - NarratorFilm
2017Diana and the PaparazziNarrator (voice)Film
2017Shannon Matthews: The Mother's StoryNarratorFilm
2016Golden YearsNancyFilm
2016RoversDoreen · 6 episodesSeries
2016British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at OurselvesBarbara Royle (archive footage) (uncredited)Film
2016World Cup 1966: Alfie's BoysSelfFilm
2015The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number OneSelfFilm
2014Caring for the Recently DeceasedMarjoram BryonFilm
2013Being EileenEileen Lewis · 6 episodesSeries
2012GatesMiss Hunter · 5 episodesSeries
2012The Royle Family: Barbara's Old RingBarbara RoyleFilm
2011Celebrity Antiques Road TripSelf - ParticipantSeries
2011Sugartown · 3 episodesSeries
2011LaplandEileen LewisFilm
2011Baby Hospital · 3 episodesSeries
2010Downton AbbeyMiss Denker · 6 episodesSeries
2010A Passionate WomanBetty (1980s) · 2 episodesSeries
2010The Royle Family: Behind the SofaSelfFilm
2010The Royle Family: Joe's CrackersBarbaraFilm
2009The Turn of the ScrewSarah GroseFilm
2009Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help ItSelf - Narrator (voice)Film
2009The Golden Egg CupBarbara RoyleFilm
2008Little DorritAffery / Affery Flintwinch · 14 episodesSeries
2008The Royle Family: The New SofaBarbara RoyleFilm
2007Would I Lie to You?SelfSeries
2007The Alan Titchmarsh ShowSelfSeries
2006Imagine Me & YouEllaFilm
2006The StreetSeries
2006Jam and JerusalemSal Vine · 19 episodesSeries
2005Liverpool FC: One Night in MaySelfFilm
2004Strictly Come DancingSelfSeries
2004Who Do You Think You Are?SelfSeries
2004The Paul O'Grady ShowSeries
2002Cutting ItCaroline FerradaySeries
2002TimeshiftSelf - NarratorSeries
2002There's Only One Paul McCartneySelfFilm
2002The Virgin MarySelf - PresenterFilm
2001Waking the DeadDr. Grace Foley · 90 episodesSeries
2001New Year's DayMrs. FisherFilm
2001My Uncle SilasMrs Betts · 12 episodesSeries
2001ScoreMaggieFilm
1999Loose WomenSelf · 2 episodesSeries
1999Sex, Chips & Rock n' RollIrma · 6 episodesSeries
1999Finest HourCommentary · 4 episodesSeries
1999Sex, Chips & Rock n' RollFilm
1998The Royle FamilyBarbara Royle · 20 episodesSeries
1998Brookside: Friday the 13thSheila GrantFilm
1998Duck PatrolVal Rutland · 7 episodesSeries
1998The JumpMaeve Brunos · 4 episodesSeries
1998The Things You Do for Love: Against the OddsPat PhoenixFilm
1998ParkinsonSelfSeries
1998VerdictHazel De Vere Q.C.Series
1997FaceAliceFilm
1997Preaching to the PervertedEsmeraldaFilm
1997Crime TravellerDetective Chief Inspector Kate Grisham · 8 episodesSeries
1997Brookside: The Lost WeekendSheila GrantFilm
1996Brassed OffVeraFilm
1996Hetty Wainthropp InvestigatesHelga AllowbySeries
1996Into the FireLyn · 3 episodesSeries
1995HollyoaksSheila GrantSeries
1994Measure for MeasureMistress OverdoneFilm
1993Luv · 18 episodesSeries
1993Full StretchGrace Robbins · 6 episodesSeries
1992A Touch of FrostPhyllis BowmanSeries
1992Goodbye Cruel WorldBarbara Grade · 3 episodesSeries
1992Bitter HarvestMiriam JohnsonFilm
1991PerformanceMistress OverdoneSeries
1991In Suspicious CircumstancesEdith RosseSeries
1990Medics · 40 episodesSeries
1987Inspector MorseMrs. BaileySeries
1986ScreenPlayMiriam JohnsonSeries
1982BrooksideSheila Grant · 882 episodesSeries
1952TodaySelfSeries
—BilbyNancyFilm