---
name: "Claire Rushbrook"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/claire-rushbrook"
fi1m_id: "claire-rushbrook"
imdb_id: "nm0750718"
tmdb_id: 68384
wikidata_id: "Q299684"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 August 1971"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 14
updated: "2026-10-13T04:54:57.250998+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."
---

# Claire Rushbrook

## Identity

Claire Rushbrook

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/claire-rushbrook
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** claire-rushbrook
- **IMDb ID:** nm0750718
- **TMDB ID:** 68384
- **Wikidata ID:** Q299684
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Rushbrook, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q299684, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750718/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/68384

Actor. Born 25 August 1971 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 August 1971, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1996–present
- **Also known as:** Claire Louise Rushbrook
- **Frequently works with:** [David Tennant](https://film.one/person/david-tennant.md), [Jack Thorne](https://film.one/person/jack-thorne.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 14 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 79 (3), 2000s 64 (1), 2010s 75 (6), 2020s 77 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 69 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 8 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 10 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Crime 5, Comedy 3, Adventure 2, Mystery 2, Romance 2
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,248m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Rushbrook, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q299684, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750718/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/68384

## Coming up

- *Doctor Who Day: The Impossible Planet & The Satan Pit* (2026-11-23), as Ida Scott — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-who-the-satan-pit.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Sherwood*](https://film.one/tv/sherwood.md) (82), [*Kiri*](https://film.one/tv/kiri.md) (78)
- **Disney+:** [*Rivals*](https://film.one/tv/rivals.md) (80), [*The Fades*](https://film.one/tv/the-fades.md) (72)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*My Mad Fat Diary*](https://film.one/tv/my-mad-fat-diary.md) (88)
- **HBO Max:** [*Secrets & Lies*](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md) (88)
- **MUBI:** [*Ali & Ava*](https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava.md) (82)
- **BritBox:** [*Mrs Biggs*](https://film.one/tv/mrs-biggs.md) (74)
- **Tubi:** [*Ammonite*](https://film.one/film/ammonite.md) (64)

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

## Fi1m on Claire Rushbrook

> Claire Rushbrook is particularly good at women who will not accept somebody else's account of them. Her understated acting makes family disagreements convincing, and we would welcome more leading roles.

In *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Claire Rushbrook gives Roxanne enough resistance to make her mother Cynthia's account of their difficulties seem incomplete. Brenda Blethyn makes Cynthia's distress hard to ignore, but Rushbrook keeps us from treating the daughter as merely another problem for her mother to bear. We felt checked by Roxanne's objections, because they made us question whose hurt we were prepared to take seriously. Mike Leigh's writing sometimes explains feelings the actors have already made clear; Rushbrook's part in the family disagreement is persuasive without that help. She does not have to make Roxanne agreeable to make her worth listening to.

That breakthrough supporting role was followed by a career built largely in British film and television ensembles, including *My Mad Fat Diary* (2013–2015) and *Home Fires* (2015–2016). Her understatement suits domestic drama, though being reliable in support is hardly a reason to keep an actor there. *Ali & Ava* (2021), Clio Barnard's romantic drama, gives Rushbrook the lead role of Ava. Her quietly determined performance makes a useful starting point for anyone who wants to see her given more space. We would welcome more such opportunities, rather than treating an ability to support other actors as a permanent job description.

*Rivals* (2024) takes her into adult soap as Lady Monica Baddingham, a considerable change of company from Leigh's family drama. Its pleasures depend on an ensemble prepared to take the nonsense seriously, and that balance is a useful test for an understated actor. We recommend the series for its humour and performances, with the caveat that its crowded plotting can become tiresome. There is pleasure in seeing an actor associated with ordinary domestic troubles cast as Lady Monica, but we would not choose this busy programme as an introduction to her work. Start with *Secrets & Lies*, and give Roxanne's objections as much attention as Cynthia's distress.

## Biography

Claire Rushbrook is an English actress. Born on 25 August 1971 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, she trained at Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance.

She began her career in theatre before moving into film and television in the mid-1990s. Rushbrook is known for her role as Roxanne Purley in *Secrets & Lies* (1996) and as Linda Earl-Bouchtat in the series *My Mad Fat Diary* (2013–2015), for which she received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her other credits include *Home Fires* (2015–2016), *Sherwood* (2022–), *Enola Holmes* (2020), *Ammonite* (2020) and *Ali & Ava* (2021). She appears as Lady Monica Baddingham in the series *Rivals* (2024–).

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

## On Fi1m (14)

- *Rivals* (2024), Fi1m 80, as Lady Monica Baddingham — [page](https://film.one/tv/rivals.md)
- *Ali & Ava* (2022), Fi1m 82, as Ava — [page](https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava.md)
- *Sherwood* (2022), Fi1m 82, as Cathy Rowley — [page](https://film.one/tv/sherwood.md)
- *Ammonite* (2020), Fi1m 64, as Eleanor Butters — [page](https://film.one/film/ammonite.md)
- *Spider-Man: Far From Home* (2019), Fi1m 67, as Janice — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-far-from-home.md)
- *Kiri* (2018), Fi1m 78, as Julie — [page](https://film.one/tv/kiri.md)
- *No Offence* (2015), Fi1m 73, as Marilyn Marchant — [page](https://film.one/tv/no-offence.md)
- *My Mad Fat Diary* (2013), Fi1m 88, as Linda Earl — [page](https://film.one/tv/my-mad-fat-diary.md)
- *Mrs Biggs* (2012), Fi1m 74, as Ruby Wright — [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-biggs.md)
- *The Fades* (2011), Fi1m 72, as Meg Roberts — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fades.md)
- *Ashes to Ashes* (2008), Fi1m 64, as Trixie Walsh — [page](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md)
- *Spaced* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Yolanda — [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)
- *Spice World* (1997), Fi1m 62, as Deborah — [page](https://film.one/film/spice-world.md)
- *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Fi1m 88, as Roxanne Purley — [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

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

- *Doctor Who Day: The Impossible Planet & The Satan Pit* (2026), as Ida Scott — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-who-the-satan-pit.md)
- *The Witness* (2026), series, as Dr. Jean Harris-Hendriks
- *Moonflower Murders* (2024), series, as Katie Williams
- *Rivals* (2024), series, as Lady Monica Baddingham — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/rivals.md)
- *A Very Royal Scandal* (2024), series, as Sarah Ferguson
- *Sky Peals* (2024), as Donna
- *Turnaround* (2024), as Mags
- *Wilderness* (2023), series, as Caryl
- *The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry* (2023), as Farmer’s Wife
- *Sherwood* (2022), series, as Cathy Rowley — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/sherwood.md)
- *Ali & Ava* (2022), as Ava — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/ali-and-ava.md)
- *Magpie Murders* (2022), series, as Katie Williams
- *Ammonite* (2020), as Eleanor Butters — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ammonite.md)
- *Enola Holmes* (2020), as Mrs. Lane
- *Temple* (2019), series, as Gloria Wilson
- *Spider-Man: Far From Home* (2019), as Janice — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-far-from-home.md)
- *Don't Forget the Driver* (2019), series, as Fran
- *The Split* (2018), series, as Emma Graham
- *Requiem* (2018), series, as Rose Morgan
- *Kiri* (2018), series, as Julie — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/kiri.md)
- *Genius* (2017), series, as Pauline Einstein
- *No Offence* (2015), series, as Marilyn Marchant — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/no-offence.md)
- *Home Fires* (2015), series, as Pat Simms
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Vicky — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *The Mill* (2013), series, as Mrs Timperley
- *My Mad Fat Diary* (2013), series, as Linda Earl — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-mad-fat-diary.md)
- *Mrs Biggs* (2012), as Ruby Wright
- *Mrs Biggs* (2012), series, as Ruby Wright — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-biggs.md)
- *Murder: Joint Enterprise* (2012), as Ellen
- *Great Expectations* (2011), series, as Mrs. Gargery
- *Black Mirror* (2011), series, as Police Detective — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Rachel Baldwin
- *The Fades* (2011), series, as Meg Roberts — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fades.md)
- *Lizzie and Sarah* (2010), as Fiona
- *Enid* (2009), as Dorothy Richards
- *Collision* (2009), series, as Karen Donnelly
- *Whitechapel* (2009), series, as Dr Caroline Llewellyn
- *Mutual Friends* (2008), series, as Leigh Cato
- *Ashes to Ashes* (2008), series, as Trixie Walsh — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md)
- *Double Time* (2007), series, as Sarah
- *I Am Bob* (2007), as Barmaid/Patsy Cline Lookalike
- *Afterlife* (2005), series, as Jennifer
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Ida Scott — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Caroline
- *Carrie & Barry* (2004), series, as Carrie
- *Family Business* (2004), series, as Rachel Brooker
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Pamela Scott
- *Doctor Sleep* (2002), as Grace
- *The Stretford Wives* (2002), as Elaine Massey Simmons
- *Linda Green* (2001), series, as Michelle Fenton
- *The Sins* (2000), series, as Faith Blackwell
- *Shiner* (2000), as Ruth
- *The Visitor* (1999), as Terri
- *Shockers* (1999), series, as Terri
- *Spaced* (1999), series, as Yolanda — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)
- *Plunkett & Macleane* (1999), as Lady Estelle Darcy
- *Spice World* (1997), as Deborah — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/spice-world.md)
- *Under the Skin* (1997), as Rose Kelly
- *Touching Evil* (1997), series, as Julie Carney
- *Turning World* (1997), series, as Julia Garnett
- *Crocodile Snap* (1997), as Mum
- *Secrets & Lies* (1996), as Roxanne Purley — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md)
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Policewoman — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *Coronation Street* (1960), series, as Mrs Barrett — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/coronation-street.md)

## Gallery

- ![Claire Rushbrook at Rivals premiere at SXSW London 2026](https://film.one/media/person/22133/gallery-0f1619d3a611.jpg) Claire Rushbrook at Rivals premiere at SXSW London 2026 — Amy Martin Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Claire_Rushbrook.jpg/1280px-Claire_Rushbrook.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rivals cast and crew at premiere at at SXSW London 2026](https://film.one/media/person/22133/gallery-2a2dc753a0bb.jpg) Rivals cast and crew at premiere at at SXSW London 2026 — Amy Martin Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Rivals_cast_and_crew.jpg/1280px-Rivals_cast_and_crew.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rivals cast and crew at premier at SXSW London 2026](https://film.one/media/person/22133/gallery-bbda74409c71.jpg) Rivals cast and crew at premier at SXSW London 2026 — Amy Martin Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Rivals_cast_and_crew_2.jpg/1280px-Rivals_cast_and_crew_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Claire Rushbrook](https://film.one/media/person/22133/gallery-97e43a828ebb.jpg) Claire Rushbrook — Image via TMDB
- ![Claire Rushbrook](https://film.one/media/person/22133/gallery-29a63cacc5d2.jpg) Claire Rushbrook — Image via TMDB
- ![Claire Rushbrook](https://film.one/media/person/22133/gallery-6f2db7de99aa.jpg) Claire Rushbrook — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/claire-rushbrook