---
name: "Cherie Lunghi"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/cherie-lunghi"
fi1m_id: "cherie-lunghi"
imdb_id: "nm0526724"
tmdb_id: 20768
wikidata_id: "Q443174"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "4 April 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T13:25:52.101077+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Cherie Lunghi

## Identity

Cherie Lunghi

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/cherie-lunghi
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** cherie-lunghi
- **IMDb ID:** nm0526724
- **TMDB ID:** 20768
- **Wikidata ID:** Q443174
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherie_Lunghi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q443174, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0526724/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20768

Actor. Born 4 April 1952 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 4 April 1952, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1981–2002
- **Also known as:** Cherie Mary Lunghi, Cheri Lunghi
- **Frequently works with:** [Aidan Quinn](https://film.one/person/aidan-quinn.md), [Robert De Niro](https://film.one/person/robert-de-niro.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 72 (2), 1990s 54 (1), 2000s 72 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 57 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Adventure 2, Action 1, Comedy 1, Fantasy 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $164m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherie_Lunghi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q443174, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0526724/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20768

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Mission*](https://film.one/film/the-mission-1986.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Cherie Lunghi

> Cherie Lunghi’s theatrical precision gives her a firm presence on screen. We value her commitment, but the historical dramas we have reviewed too often ask her to supply emotion that the writing has not earned.

As Guenevere in *Excalibur* (1981), Cherie Lunghi has the poise for a queen, though John Boorman’s film leaves her little room to become someone we know. Her commitment is clear, as is Nicholas Clay’s as Lancelot; the writing is less persuasive about what passes between them. We felt kept at a frustrating distance from Guenevere because there were too few small exchanges to make the grand passions convincing. Alex Thomson’s photography helps make the film worth seeing, but our admiration for the spectacle does not quite extend to its handling of the people.

It was her breakthrough film role, and period dramas became a recurring part of her work. In Roland Joffé’s *The Mission* (1986), she plays Carlotta, within another film that gives its people too little attention. Robert Bolt’s script leaves the characters underdeveloped, with Jeremy Irons supplying some of the feeling it misses. The scenery, music and conviction hold us, but this is another occasion when we want the writing to give the actors more to do.

Television forms a substantial part of the picture, through *The Manageress* (1989–1990) and the long-running Kenco coffee advertisements. Her later film parts include Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein in Kenneth Branagh’s *Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein* (1994), and Anna in *Jack & Sarah* (1995). This is a broader body of work than the period casting alone suggests, with television work alongside supporting parts in films. We would be wary of assuming that the more imposing production necessarily offers her the more rewarding part.

The recurring casting as poised, authoritative women makes sense, though we would welcome more writing that lets that composure slip. Our reservation about Guenevere is not a demand for a smaller performance; we want more convincing detail in the scenes she is given. Lunghi does not lack commitment to the material. Start with *Excalibur*, provided the solemn speeches do not put you off, and allow for a script that sometimes makes its actors work harder than it should.

## Biography

Cherie Lunghi is an English actress. Born in Nottingham in 1952, she trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1970s, appearing in leading roles including Perdita, Celia and Viola.

Her film roles include Guenevere in *Excalibur* (1981), Carlotta in *The Mission* (1986) and Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein in *Mary Shelley's Frankenstein* (1994). She has appeared in many British television dramas, including *The Manageress*, and featured in a series of Kenco coffee advertisements. She competed in the 2008 series of *Strictly Come Dancing*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Cutting It* (2002), Fi1m 72, as Zinnia Raggitt — [page](https://film.one/tv/cutting-it.md)
- *Mary Shelley's Frankenstein* (1994), Fi1m 54, as Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein — [page](https://film.one/film/mary-shelleys-frankenstein.md)
- *The Mission* (1986), Fi1m 64, as Carlotta — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mission-1986.md)
- *Excalibur* (1981), Fi1m 79, as Guenevere — [page](https://film.one/film/excalibur.md)

## Complete filmography (95)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The World's Most Luxurious Holidays* (2022), series, as Narrator
- *Patrick* (2018), as Rosemary Francis
- *Strike* (2017), series, as Gloria Conti
- *When Calls the Heart* (2013), as Mrs. Thatcher
- *Pat & Cabbage* (2013), series, as Cabbage (Jean)
- *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Grace Sullivan
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Jayne Smythe
- *Love's Kitchen* (2011), as Margaret
- *Forever Young: How Rock 'n' Roll Grew Up* (2010), as Narrator (voice)
- *Versailles* (2009), series, as Narrator
- *The Old Guys* (2009), series, as Barbara
- *Apparitions* (2008), series, Actor
- *Versailles: The Dream of a King* (2008), as Narrator (English)
- *Casualty 1900s* (2008), series, as Eva Luckes
- *Secret Diary of a Call Girl* (2007), series, as Stephanie
- *Lewis* (2007), series, as Grace Orde
- *Hotel Babylon* (2006), series, as Mrs. Poldark
- *Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop* (2005), series, as Narrator
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Sadie Swettenham
- *Viper in the Fist* (2004), as Miss Chilton
- *The Brief* (2004), series, as Cleo Steyn QC
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Diane Loveless
- *The Open Doors* (2004), as Mrs Sappleton
- *The Seasons Alter* (2002), as Titania
- *Cutting It* (2002), series, as Zinnia Raggitt — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/cutting-it.md)
- *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as Sarah Gordon
- *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Leah Gold
- *Back to the Secret Garden* (2000), as Lady Mary Craven
- *David Copperfield* (1999), series, as Mrs. Steerforth
- *Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil* (1999), as Duchess of Wharfedale
- *Hornblower* (1998), series, as Kitty Cobham
- *Little White Lies* (1998), as Julia
- *An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn* (1998), as Myrna Smithee
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Lillian Webster, Alexandra Monkford — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *La Femme Nikita* (1997), series, as Corinne Markali
- *Moloney* (1996), series, as Dr. Sarah Bateman
- *Strangers* (1996), series, as Joan
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Kay Miclean
- *The Canterville Ghost* (1996), as Lucille Otis
- *Jack & Sarah* (1995), as Anna
- *The Buccaneers* (1995), series, as Laura Testvalley
- *Mary Shelley's Frankenstein* (1994), as Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/mary-shelleys-frankenstein.md)
- *A Question of Guilt* (1993), as Helen West
- *Silent Cries* (1993), as Audrey St John
- *A Touch of Frost* (1992), series, as DS Annie Marsh — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-touch-of-frost.md)
- *Covington Cross* (1992), series, as Lady Elizabeth
- *Love at First Sight* (1992), series, as Claire Stein
- *The Strauss Dynasty* (1991), series, as Jetti
- *The Manageress* (1989), series, Actor
- *The Man Who Lived at the Ritz* (1988), as Lily Globuska
- *Intrigue* (1988), as Adriana
- *To Kill a Priest* (1988), as Halina
- *Coast to Coast* (1987), as Susan
- *The Lady's Not For Burning* (1987), as Jennet Jourdemayne
- *The Mission* (1986), as Carlotta — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mission-1986.md)
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Camille Windsor — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *The Monocled Mutineer* (1986), series, Actor
- *Sunday Premiere* (1986), series, as Dorothy
- *Letters to an Unknown Lover* (1986), as Helene
- *Harem* (1986), as Usta
- *Harem* (1986), series, as Usta
- *Parker* (1985), as Jenny Parker
- *Vicious Circle* (1985), as Estelle
- *King David* (1985), as Michal
- *EastEnders* (1985), series, as Jan Sherwood — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/eastenders.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Susan
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (1984), as Beatrice
- *The Man Who Shot Christmas* (1984), as Debbie
- *Ellis Island* (1984), series, as Una Marbury
- *Desert of Lies* (1984), as Sue
- *Master of the Game* (1984), series, as Margaret Van der Merwe
- *Strangers and Brothers* (1984), series, as Margaret Davidson
- *The Sign of Four* (1983), as Mary Morstan
- *Praying Mantis* (1982), series, as Beatrice Manceau
- *The Agatha Christie Hour* (1982), series, as Lady Noreen Elliot
- *Oliver Twist* (1982), as Nancy
- *Quell and Co.* (1982), as Angela Richardson
- *Preview* (1982), as Emily
- *Praying Mantis* (1982), as Beatrice Manceau
- *Excalibur* (1981), as Guenevere — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/excalibur.md)
- *Diversion ...* (1980), as Erica
- *Dead Man's Kit* (1980), as Stephanie
- *'Tis Pity She's a Whore* (1980), as Annabella
- *The Misanthrope* (1980), as Celimene
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Karen Masterson
- *Diversion* (1979), as Erica
- *Edward and Mrs Simpson* (1978), series, as Lady Thelma Furness
- *Edward & Mrs. Simpson* (1978), as Lady Thelma Furness
- *The Comedy of Errors* (1978), as Ephesus Townsperson
- *Bill Brand* (1976), series, as Alex Ferguson
- *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Emily
- *Late Night Theatre* (1972), series, as Emma Torrance
- *Out of Town Theatre* (1966), series, as The Girl
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Anna Danby, Célimène
- *Sherlock Holmes* (1964), series, Actor

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/cherie-lunghi