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Photo of Ruth Sheen

Ruth Sheen

ActorBorn January 1, 1952 (73 years)
Ruth Sheen (born 1952) is an English actress.

Born in London, Sheen began her career by training at the East 15 Acting School, and has appeared regularly on British television and in British films since 1988. On television, she had recurring roles as Nanny Simmons in Berkeley Square (1998), and as Nurse Ethel Carr in the series Bramwell (1995–1998). She has also appeared as four different characters in six episodes of The Bill between 1989 and 2004.

She has also appeared in five Mike Leigh films: in the female lead role of Shirley in High Hopes (1988); as Laughing Woman in Secrets & Lies (1996); as Maureen in All or Nothing (2002), as Lily in Vera Drake (2004) and as Gerri in Another Year (2010). Her role in High Hopes won her the Best Actress award at the 1989 European Film Awards.

In 2007, she played the role of Lyn, opposite Ben Whishaw's Steven, in the world premiere of Philip Ridley's stage play, Leaves of Glass at the Soho Theatre, London.

She also plays the mother of Jim Sturgess's character, Jamie, in Philip Ridley's feature film, Heartless.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Midsomer Murders
  • Brassic
  • Cracker
  • Prime Suspect 1973
  • The Young Poisoner's Handbook
  • SuperBob
  • Bramwell
  • London's Burning
  • Peak Practice
  • Jimmy McGovern's Moving On

Known For

  • Another Year
  • Run Fatboy Run
  • Strike
  • Welcome to the Punch
  • Mr. Turner
  • High Hopes
  • All or Nothing
  • Vanity Fair
  • Cyrano
  • Heartless
  • The Young Poisoner's Handbook
  • Touch
  • SuperBob
  • Bramwell
  • VS.
  • Lorna Doone
  • Virtual Sexuality
  • Fanny Hill

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2025
    The Thursday Murder Club · as Aunt Maud
    2024
    Austin (TV Series) · as Elaine
    2024
    Touch · as Mrs. Ellis
    2023
    The After · as Tabatha
    2023
    Hijack (TV Series) · as Elaine Atterton
    2021
    Cyrano · as Mother Marthe
    2021
    The Nevers (TV Series) · as Mrs. Beechum
    2021
    It's a Sin (TV Series) · as Sandra
    2020
    Gangs of London (TV Series) · as Deborah Devereux
    2019
    Brassic (TV Series) · as Kath
    2018
    VS. · as Fiona
    2018
    The Woman in White (2018) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Clements
    2017
    Strike (TV Series) · as Pat Chauncey
    2017
    Prime Suspect 1973 (TV Series) · as Renee Bentley
    2017
    Unforgotten: Domestic Turmoil · as Lizzie Wilton
    2017
    2016
    2015
    2015
    A Royal Night Out · as Jack's Mum
    2015
    Unforgotten (TV Series) · as Lizzie Wilton
    2014
    Mr. Turner · as Sarah Danby
    2014
    Inside No. 9 (TV Series) · as Elizabeth Gadge
    2013
    Our Girl (TV Series) · as Nan
    2013
    Welcome to the Punch · as Iris Warns
    2013
    The Mimic (TV Series) · as Martin's Mum
    2012
    Call the Midwife (TV Series) · as Sister Maltby
    2010
    Accused (TV Series) · as Mo's Mum
    2010
    Another Year · as Gerri
    2009
    Heartless · as Marion Morgan
    2009
    Misfits (TV Series) · as Maggie
    2009
    Jimmy McGovern's Moving On (TV Series) · as Maggie
    2007
    Fanny Hill · as Mrs. Jones
    2007
    Fanny Hill (TV Series) · as Mrs Jones
    2007
    Run Fatboy Run · as Claudine
    2007
    A Class Apart · as Ruth - Candy's Mum
    2007
    Hush Your Mouth · as Mrs Collins
    2006
    Vital Signs (TV Series)
    2005
    The English Harem · as Emily
    2005
    Footprints in the Snow · as Lady Victualler
    2005
    Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky (TV Series) · as Aunt Winnie
    2005
    Imagine Me & You · as Mrs Webster
    2005
    2004
    Agatha Christie's Marple (TV Series) · as Mrs. Tarrant
    2004
    Vera Drake · as Lily
    2004
    Vanity Fair · as Miss Pinkerton
    2004
    Doc Martin (TV Series) · as Maureen
    2003
    Cheeky · as Tamara
    2003
    Coming Up (TV Series) · as Jane
    2002
    All or Nothing · as Maureen
    2002
    White Teeth (TV Series) · as Maureen
    2001
    The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells (TV Series) · as Mrs. Macmananan
    2000
    Lorna Doone · as Betty Muxworthy
    2000
    Lorna Doone (TV Series) · as Betty Muxworthy
    2000
    Never Never (TV Series) · as Sandra
    2000
    BBC Breakfast (TV Series) · as Gerri
    2000
    Don Quixote · as 1st Wench / Young Lady
    1999
    Virtual Sexuality · as Jackie Lovett
    1998
    Berkeley Square (TV Series) · as Nanny Simmons
    1997
    The History of Tom Jones (TV Series) · as Mrs. Harris
    1997
    Holding On (TV Series) · as Alice
    1997
    Midsomer Murders (TV Series) · as Valerie Horton
    1996
    Different for Girls · as Nosy Neighbour
    1996
    Secrets & Lies · as Laughing Woman
    1996
    Silent Witness (TV Series)
    1995
    1995
    Bramwell (TV Series)
    1994
    Sin Bin · as Viv Hastings
    1993
    Cracker (TV Series) · as Jean Mcilvanney
    1993
    When Pigs Fly · as Marge
    1993
    Peak Practice (TV Series) · as Pauline Wadham
    1993
    A Fatal Inversion · as Forensic Scientist
    1992
    Ghostwatch · as Emma Stableford (voice)
    1992
    A Fatal Inversion (TV Series) · as Forensic Scientist
    1989
    Agatha Christie's Poirot (TV Series) · as Madame Rosentelle
    1989
    Making Out (TV Series) · as Delia
    1988
    High Hopes · as Shirley
    1988
    London's Burning (TV Series) · as Danny's Mum
    1987
    Little Dorrit · as Society Lady
    1986
    Casualty (TV Series) · as Barbara George
    1986
    King & Castle (TV Series) · as Receptionist
    1986
    Screenplay (1986) (TV Series) · as Helen Baldwin
    1984
    Screen Two (TV Series) · as Viv Hastings
    1984
    The Bill (TV Series)

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