Claire Skinner (born 1965) is an English actress, known in the United Kingdom for her television career, particularly playing Sue Brockman from the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

television series '' Outnumbered''. She is also known for her collaboration with director

Mike Leigh Mike Leigh (born 20 February 1943) is an English screenwriter, producer, director and former actor with a film, theatre, and television career spanning more than 60 years. His accolades include prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlin In ...

on two of his films, '' Life is Sweet'' (1990) and ''

Naked Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing. While estimates vary, for the first 90,000 years of pre-history, anatomically modern humans were naked, having lost their body hair, living in hospitable climates, and not ...

'' (1993).

Early life

Claire Skinner was born and brought up in

Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead () is a town in the Dacorum district in Hertfordshire, England. It is located north-west of London; nearby towns and cities include Watford, St Albans and Berkhamsted. The population at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 cens ...

, 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 erA-levels". She went on to study at the

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is a drama school located in Hammersmith, London. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest specialist drama school in the British Isles and a founding member of the Federation of Drama Schools. In ...

and then joined the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

Career

Her first role was in ''Hanky Park'', by

Walter Greenwood Walter Greenwood (17 December 1903 – 13 September 1974) was an English novelist, best known for the socially influential novel '' Love on the Dole'' (1933). Early life Greenwood was born at 56 Ellor Street, his father's house and hairdr ...

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 Sir Lenworth George Henry (born 29 August 1958) is a British Jamaicans, British-Jamaican comedian, actor and writer. He gained success as a Stand-up comedy, stand-up comedian and impressionist in the late 1970s and early 1980s, culminating in ' ...

. 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

'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 ''

'' –

Trevor Nunn Sir Trevor Robert Nunn (born 14 January 1940) is an English theatre director and lyricist. He has been the artistic director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He has dir ...

Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and producer. Known for popularizing Goth subculture, Goth culture in the American film industry, Burton is famous for his Gothic film, gothic horror and dark fantasy films. ...

and

Sam Mendes Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes (born 1 August 1965) is a British film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2000, Mendes was appointed a CBE for his services to drama, and he was Knight Bachelor, knighted in the 2020 New Year Honours ...

, 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 ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'' 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 Peter Hugh Dennis (born 13 February 1962) is an English comedian, presenter, actor, Impressionist (entertainment), impressionist and writer. He was a panellist in every episode of the comedy show ''Mock the Week'' (2005–2022) and is one half ...

. 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 ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...

'' by

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, Young Vic Theatre,

, (1992) *''

The Importance of Being Earnest ''The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People'' is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1892), ''A Woman of No Importance'' (1893) and ''An Ideal Husban ...

'' by

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

, (1993) *''

Moonlight Moonlight consists of mostly sunlight (with little earthlight) reflected from the parts of the Moon's surface where the Sun's light strikes. History The ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras was aware that "''the sun provides the moon with its ...

'', by

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A List of Nobel laureates in Literature, Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramat ...

, London's West End, (1993) *'' Look Back in Anger'', by

John Osborne John James Osborne (12 December 1929 – 24 December 1994) was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and entrepreneur, who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in post-war theatre. Born in London, he briefly worked as a jo ...

, Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1995) *'' Charley's Aunt'', by

Brandon Thomas Brandon Thomas may refer to: *Brandon Thomas (playwright) (1848–1914), English actor and playwright who wrote the hit farce, ''Charley's Aunt'' * Brandon Thomas (musician) (born 1980), American rock band singer *Brandon Thomas (American football) ...

, Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1995) *'' The Glass Menagerie'', by

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the three ...

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic direc ...

and Comedy Theatre, (1995) *''

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

'' by

, Lyttelton Theatre,

Royal National Theatre The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre and sometimes referred to in international contexts as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, ...

, (1997) *''

The Winter's Tale ''The Winter's Tale'' is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some criti ...

'' by

, Olivier Theatre,

, (2001) *'' Mrs. Affleck'', National Theatre, (2009) *'' Deathtrap'' by

Ira Levin Ira Marvin Levin (August 27, 1929 – November 12, 2007) was an American novelist, playwright, and songwriter. His works include the novels '' A Kiss Before Dying'' (1953), '' Rosemary's Baby'' (1967), '' The Stepford Wives'' (1972), '' This Perf ...

Noël Coward Theatre The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre in St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster, London. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's ...

(2010) *''

Blurred Lines "Blurred Lines" is a song by American singer Robin Thicke featuring American rapper T.I. and American musician Pharrell Williams from Thicke's sixth studio album of the same name (2013). Solely produced by Williams, it was released as the a ...

'', National Theatre, (2014) *''The Father'' by

Florian Zeller Florian Zeller (; born 28 June 1979Extrait de naissance /1979LES GENS DU CINEMA ©/ref>) is a French novelist, playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, and film director. He has written over a dozen plays, that have been staged worldwide and h ...

, Theatre Royal Bath Productions,

Tricycle Theatre The Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle Theatre) is a theatre located in Kilburn, in the London Borough of Brent, England. Since 1980, the theatre has presented a wide range of plays reflecting the cultural diversity of the area, as well as n ...

(2015) *'' Rabbit Hole'' by David Lindsay-Abaire,

Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in South Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. History The original ''Hampstead Theatre Clu ...

(2016) * ''Prism'' by Terry Johnson,

(2017) *''Nightfall'' by Barney Norris, Bridge Theatre Productions, Bridge Theatre (2018) *'' A Day in The Death of Joe Egg'' by Peter Nichols,

Trafalgar Studios Trafalgar Theatre is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London. The Grade II listed building was built in 1930 with interiors in the Art Deco style as the Whitehall Theatre; it regularly staged ...

(2019)

Radio

*''Five Beats to the Bar'' by Neil d'Souza,

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...

, (2002) *''

Old Harry's Game ''Old Harry's Game'' is a British radio comedy written and directed by Andy Hamilton, who stars as the cynical, world-weary Satan. "Old Harry" is one of many names for the Devil. The show's title is a play on that of the 1982 television series ...

''—Christmas Special by Andy Hamilton on

, (2002) *''

Trevor's World of Sport ''Trevor's World of Sport'' began as a 2003 BBC television sitcom written and directed by Andy Hamilton and starring Neil Pearson as Trevor. One series of the television series was made, followed by three series which were aired on BBC Radio 4, ...

'' by Andy Hamilton on

, (2005, 2006, 2007) *'' Oblomov'' (2005) *''The Light of Knowledge'' by Mya Hnuang Nyo,

, (2005) *''

'' by

, (2005) *''Bed and Breakfast'' by Helen Simpson,

, (2005) *''Not a Games Person'', narrating Julie Myerson's play,

, (2006) *''Sculptor's Daughter''-Christmas, Snow, Pets and Females, and The Bays by Tove Jansson,

, (2006) *''Standing Sideways'', by Matt Charman,

, (2006) *'' Elizabeth and Her German Garden'', by Elizabeth von Arnim,

, (2006) *''School Runs'', by Alexis Zegerman,

, (2006) *''Jigsaw'', by Sybille Bedford,

, (2006, 2007) * Poetry Please, reading poems by Percy Bysshe,

Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley ( , ; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel ''Frankenstein, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an History of science fiction# ...

John Donne John Donne ( ; 1571 or 1572 – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, scholar, soldier and secretary born into a recusant family, who later became a clergy, cleric in the Church of England. Under Royal Patronage, he was made Dean of St Paul's, D ...

Gerard Manley Hopkins Gerard Manley Hopkins (28 July 1844 – 8 June 1889) was an English poet and Society of Jesus, Jesuit priest, whose posthumous fame places him among the leading English poets. His Prosody (linguistics), prosody – notably his concept of sprung ...

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Literary realism, Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry ...

Philip Larkin Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. His first book of poetry, '' The North Ship'', was published in 1945, followed by two novels, '' Jill'' (1946) and '' A Girl in Winter'' (194 ...

, (2007) *'' Mrs. Warren's Profession'', by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

, (2007) *''Bird Song''

, (2008) *'' Don't Turn Around (radio short)'' by Marian Garvey,

, (2008) *''Five Easy Ways with Chilli'' by Scarlett Thomas,

, (2008) *''Lunch: A Platonic Romantic Comedy'' by Marcy Kahan,

, (2013, 2014, 2015) *''The Father'' by

, (2017)

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 The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in West End theatre, professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of We ...

Best Supporting Performance for '' The Glass Menagerie'' *2009 – Nominated –

BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...

Best Comedy Performance for '' Outnumbered''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, Claire 1965 births Living people Actors from Hemel Hempstead Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Critics' Circle Theatre Award winners Royal Shakespeare Company members English film actresses English people of Irish descent English radio actresses English stage actresses English television actresses English voice actresses Actresses from Hertfordshire 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses