Frances Barber
Known for acting · Born 13 May 1958 · 68 · Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK
158 credits
Frances Barber (née Brookes, born 13 May 1958) is an English actress. She received Olivier Award nominations for her work in the plays Camille (1985), and Uncle Vanya (1997). Her film appearances include three collaborations with Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears (1987), We Think the World of You (1988) and Dead Fish (2005); as well as Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987); Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992); and latterly Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017). Barber's numerous television credits include The Street (2009), Doctor Who (2011), Silk (2012–2014), and Whitstable Pearl (2021–2022).
Known for
Bremner, Bird and Fortune
1999
A Zed & Two Noughts
1985
Whitstable Pearl
2021
The Escape
2018
Monkey Dust
2003
Silk
2011
Doctor Who
2005
Giorgino
1994
Evilenko
2004
Castaway
1986
We'll Take Manhattan
2012
Shiner
2000
Acting (157)
2026MUSIKFilm
2026A Hand to HoldMoiraFilm
2026The State of UsJoanFilm
2025The People BeforeFilm
2025The Secret Santa ProjectCarolFilm
2024HamletFirst Player / Player Queen / Second ClownFilm
2023DreamlandCheryl · 6 episodesSeries
2022The Chelsea DetectiveOlivia Arnold · 5 episodesSeries
2022A Bird Flew InMarieFilm
2021Whitstable PearlDolly Nolan · 18 episodesSeries
2021A Ghost Story for Christmas: The MezzotintMrs AmbrigailFilm
2021Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of SquirrelSelfFilm
2020Semi-DetachedPatricia · 2 episodesSeries
2019Queens of MysteryViv CollinsSeries
2019Trick or TreatMiss FergusonFilm
2019Let's Talk About SexNarrator · 3 episodesSeries
2018Blue IguanaPrincessFilm
2018The EscapeAlisonFilm
2018McKellen: Playing the PartFilm
2018The Queen and IPrincess MargaretFilm
2018An Ideal HusbandMrs. CheveleyFilm
2017The BookshopJessie WelfordFilm
2017Film Stars Don't Die in LiverpoolJoyFilm
2017Summer Comedy ShortsMumSeries
2016The ChosenNatalia SedovaFilm
2016The RebelAngela · 2 episodesSeries
2015Mr. HolmesMatinee "Madame Schirmer"Film
2015Britain's Busiest Airport: HeathrowNarratorSeries
2014Inside No. 9LesleySeries
2014The IT Crowd ManualSelfFilm
2014Mapp and LuciaAmelia, Contessa di Faraglione · 3 episodesSeries
2014BuckyMiss EvershamFilm
2013Father BrownDavina MalmortSeries
2013May I Kill U?BerniceFilm
2013PsychobitchesBette Davis, Doris Stokes, Catherine the Great, Elizabeth I, St Catherine, Whistler's Mother, Thora Hind, Josephine-Joseph, Barbara CartlandSeries
2013Muse of FireSelfFilm
2013The SpaGinny · 6 episodesSeries
2013Bad Education: Christmas SpecialAlfie's MumFilm
2012We'll Take ManhattanDiana VreelandFilm
2012Playhouse PresentsBette Davis, Doris Stokes, Catherine the GreatSeries
2011Death in ParadiseDiana WatsonSeries
2011Friday Night DinnerSheila BloomSeries
2011Great ExpectationsMrs. Brandley · 2 episodesSeries
2011SilkCaroline Warwick QC · 12 episodesSeries
2011Celebrity Antiques Road TripSelf - ParticipantSeries
2010VexedPat PoynterSeries
2010Pete versus LifeSeries
2010The NativityElizabeth · 4 episodesSeries
2009Law & Order: UKSeries
2009The Fattest Man in BritainJaniceFilm
2008Beautiful PeopleMiss PrenticeSeries
2008King LearGonerilFilm
2008Bremner, Bird and Fortune: Silly MoneyDinner GuestSeries
2007Goal II: Living the DreamCarol HarmisonFilm
2007BenidormDaisySeries
2006The IT CrowdDoctor MendallSeries
2006Hotel BabylonSeries
2006The StreetSeries
2005Doctor WhoMadame Kovarian · 3 episodes, Eye Patch Lady · 3 episodesSeries
2005Goal!Carol HarmisonFilm
2005Dead FishS & M ProstituteFilm
2005FunlandConnie Woolf · 10 episodesSeries
2005His Passionate BrideNarrator (voice)Film
2004HustleClarissaSeries
2004Agatha Christie's MarpleLizzie HinchcliffeSeries
2004EvilenkoFenja EvilenkaFilm
2004New TricksSeries
2004The Legend of the Tamworth TwoMiss Piggy (voice)Film
2003Monkey Dust(voice) · 18 episodesSeries
2003BoudicaAgrippinaFilm
2003FlyfishingFrancesFilm
2003ListeningWomanFilm
2002The Red SirenEvaFilm
2002Having It Off · 6 episodesSeries
2002Celeb · 6 episodesSeries
2001SuperstitionIsabella FloresFilm
2001Love in a Cold ClimateThe Bolter · 2 episodesSeries
2001The Gentleman ThiefJulia SinclairFilm
2000Esther KahnRivka KahnFilm
2000ShinerGeorgieFilm
1999Gimme Gimme GimmeJanineSeries
1999The EscortJessicaFilm
1999Plastic ManLouise FermanFilm
1999Bremner, Bird and Fortune · 89 episodesSeries
1999Toy BoysMrs. ChambersFilm
1999Plastic ManLouise Ferman · 2 episodesSeries
1998Still CrazyLady in BlackFilm
1998TeaWomanFilm
1998Just in TimeFilm
1998Real WomenAnna Nicholls · 7 episodesSeries
1997Midsomer MurdersIngrid Lockston, Constance FieldingSeries
1997Photographing FairiesBeatrice TempletonFilm
1997The Ice HouseDiana Goode · 2 episodesSeries
1997A Royal ScandalLady JerseyFilm
1997RubySelf · 2 episodesSeries
1996Dalziel and PascoeAmanda 'Cap' MarvellSeries
1996RhodesPrincess Catherine Radziwill · 8 episodesSeries
1996Circles of Deceit: Sleeping DogsAnnie ShepherdFilm
19953 Steps to HeavenAndrea WallisFilm
1995Aristophanes: The Gods Are LaughingAdoniaFilm
1995Rik Mayall Presents: Dirty Old TownSally DentonFilm
1995It Might Be YouWendyFilm
1994GiorginoMarieFilm
1994Space PrecinctErika BrandtSeries
1994Scarborough Ahoy!MariaFilm
1994Deep in My Heart - Germaine and BenjaminAnna LindsayFilm
1994Return to Blood RiverKarenFilm
1994Fish TaleHelen WormsleyFilm
1994In The Cold Light Of DayMotherFilm
1993ChefAnita LawrenceSeries
1993Soft Top Hard ShoulderMiss TrumbleFilm
1993Rik Mayall PresentsSally DentonSeries
1993A Statement of AffairsPipFilm
1993ThatcherworldPenny JenkinsFilm
1992The Leaving of Liverpool · 2 episodesSeries
1992The Leaving of LiverpoolEllen, Lil's MotherFilm
1991The Storyteller: Greek MythsMedusaSeries
1991Young Soul RebelsAnnFilm
1991Murder Most HorridGloria TwiggeSeries
1991Secret FriendsAngelaFilm
1991The Orchid HouseJoan · 4 episodesSeries
1991Do Not DisturbJennyFilm
1991HancockFreddie HancockFilm
1991The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Perseus & the GorgonMedusaFilm
1990The GrasscutterClaire DeedsFilm
1989Agatha Christie's PoirotLady Millicent, Merlina RivalSeries
1989Separate BedroomsGertFilm
1989Screen OneFreddie HancockSeries
1989Behaving Badly · 4 episodesSeries
1989The Nightmare YearsHelga Bauer · 4 episodesSeries
1988Red DwarfGennySeries
1988We Think the World of YouMeganFilm
1988Twelfth Night, or What You WillViola / CesarioFilm
1988The Modern World: Ten Great WritersWinnie VerlocSeries
1988DuckFilm
1987Inspector MorseNicole BurgessSeries
1987Prick Up Your EarsLeonie OrtonFilm
1987Sammy and Rosie Get LaidRosieFilm
1986CastawaySister Saint WinifredFilm
1986CasualtyNancySeries
1985A Zed & Two NoughtsVenus de MiloFilm
1985Screen TwoJenny Coldfield, Karen, MotherSeries
1985White CityAliceFilm
1984Hard FeelingsVivFilm
1983Reilly: Ace of SpiesDagmara · 3 episodesSeries
1983Those Glory Glory DaysWomanFilm
1983A Flame to the PhoenixWanda GrabinskaFilm
1983Acceptable LevelsJillFilm
1982The MissionaryMission GirlFilm
1982TimewatchAnnie BesantSeries
1982Home Sweet HomeMelodyFilm
1978An Audience with...SelfSeries
1971A Ghost Story for ChristmasMrs AmbrigailSeries
1970Play for TodayMelodySeries
1967OmnibusSeries
—From London with LoveFilm
—A Mother For An HourNestanFilm
Crew (1)
2001The Children's Midsummer Night's DreamThanksFilm