---
name: "Claire Skinner"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/claire-skinner"
fi1m_id: "claire-skinner"
imdb_id: "nm0804218"
tmdb_id: 42641
wikidata_id: "Q5125312"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "7 October 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-07T14:51:43.750151+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 Skinner

## Identity

Claire Skinner

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/claire-skinner
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** claire-skinner
- **IMDb ID:** nm0804218
- **TMDB ID:** 42641
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5125312
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Skinner, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5125312, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0804218/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42641

Actor. Born 7 October 1964 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 7 October 1964, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1987–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Mike Leigh](https://film.one/person/mike-leigh.md), [Simon Channing-Williams](https://film.one/person/simon-channing-williams.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 83 (4), 2000s 79 (2), 2010s 84 (1), 2020s 70 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 77 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 7, Drama 6, Mystery 3, Crime 2, Romance 2, Family 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $632m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Skinner, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5125312, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0804218/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42641

## Streaming the US now

- **The Criterion Channel:** [*Naked*](https://film.one/film/naked.md) (84), [*Life Is Sweet*](https://film.one/film/life-is-sweet.md) (84)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Outnumbered*](https://film.one/tv/outnumbered.md) (78)

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

## Fi1m on Claire Skinner

> Claire Skinner makes the quieter person in a scene worth watching. Her work with Mike Leigh, particularly in *Life Is Sweet*, shows how much a family comedy gains when its less insistent characters are given equal care.

Claire Skinner does not need to make Natalie the loudest person in *Life Is Sweet* (1991) for us to keep watching her. Beside Jane Horrocks's Nicola, she makes the differences between the twin sisters matter without competing for attention. Horrocks allows unhappiness to be difficult company, while Skinner gives the other daughter enough interest of her own. We were moved by their scenes together, because neither sister has to be agreeable before we can care about her.

The two early Mike Leigh films brought her screen breakthrough, with Sandra in *Naked* (1993) following Natalie. Leigh's improvisational approach suits an actor who can contribute to an ensemble without making every scene revolve around her. Yet the broader comedy in *Life Is Sweet* sometimes pushes people towards caricature, and some supporting figures in *Naked* have the same problem. We rate both films highly, though *Naked* rests chiefly on David Thewlis's frighteningly watchable Johnny. Skinner's Natalie gives us the clearer reason to seek her out.

A sustained television role came with Sue Brockman in *Outnumbered* (2007–2024, including specials), the sitcom that made her a familiar face. Supporting film roles such as Beth Killian in Tim Burton's *Sleepy Hollow* (1999) have sat alongside substantial theatre work. Skinner has described television as requiring quick decisions about character, whereas theatre allows weeks to take a play apart. It is a useful distinction when thinking about the patience that her work for Leigh rewards.

The credit belongs partly to Leigh, who allows the daughters' differences to complicate an affectionate family comedy. Skinner is not there merely to make Nicola look more troubled; the scenes would be poorer if we had no interest in Natalie herself. Start with *Life Is Sweet*, and resist the temptation to watch only the person making the most noise.

## Biography

Claire Skinner is an English actress. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began her career in theatre, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She is known for her collaborations with director Mike Leigh, appearing as Natalie in *Life Is Sweet* (1990) and as Sandra in *Naked* (1993). Other film roles include Magda in *Bridget Jones's Diary* (2001) and Beth Killian in *Sleepy Hollow* (1999). On television she has played Sue Brockman in the BBC sitcom *Outnumbered* (2007–2024) and appeared in series including *Doctor Who* (2011) and *Inside No. 9* (2014).

Skinner has also worked extensively in theatre and received the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance in *The Glass Menagerie* (1995).

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

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* (2025), Fi1m 70, as Magda — [page](https://film.one/film/bridget-jones-mad-about-the-boy.md)
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Angela — [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Outnumbered* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Sue — [page](https://film.one/tv/outnumbered.md)
- *Bridget Jones's Diary* (2001), Fi1m 80, as Magda — [page](https://film.one/film/bridget-joness-diary.md)
- *Sleepy Hollow* (1999), Fi1m 78, as Beth Killian — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepy-hollow.md)
- *Brass Eye* (1997), Fi1m 86, as Helly Melvick — [page](https://film.one/tv/brass-eye.md)
- *Naked* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Sandra — [page](https://film.one/film/naked.md)
- *Life Is Sweet* (1991), Fi1m 84, as Natalie — [page](https://film.one/film/life-is-sweet.md)
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Girl Pupil — [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

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

- *The Lady* (2026), series, as June Andrews
- *Bookish* (2025), series, as Mrs Calthrop
- *The Trial* (2025), as Dione Sinclair
- *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* (2025), as Magda — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/bridget-jones-mad-about-the-boy.md)
- *Outnumbered Christmas Special* (2024), as Sue Brockman
- *The Critic* (2024), as Mary Brooke
- *Coma* (2024), series, as Beth
- *The Chelsea Detective* (2022), series, as Charlotte Twist — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-chelsea-detective.md)
- *Boxing Day* (2021), as Auntie Caroline
- *Murder, They Hope* (2021), series, as Kerry
- *Ted Lasso* (2020), series, as Dr. Rogers — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/ted-lasso.md)
- *Kate & Koji* (2020), series, as Amanda
- *McDonald & Dodds* (2020), series, as Chief Superintendent Mary Ormond
- *The Pale Horse* (2020), series, as Yvonne Tuckerson
- *Isabel* (2019), as Mary
- *Vanity Fair* (2018), series, as Louise Sedley
- *Next of Kin* (2018), series, as DCI Vivien Barnes
- *Oxide Ghosts: The Brass Eye Tapes* (2017), Actor
- *Outnumbered - Christmas Special 2016* (2016), as Sue Brockman
- *Power Monkeys* (2016), series, as Sara
- *Critical* (2015), series, as Mrs. Lorraine Rappaport
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Angela — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *The Sick Party* (2012), as Sue Brockman
- *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as Linda
- *Shoot Me!* (2012), as Claire
- *Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe* (2011), as Madge Arwell
- *The Broken Santa* (2011), as Sue Brockman
- *Eliminate: Archie Cookson* (2011), as Camilla
- *Silk* (2011), series, as Sarah Stephens — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/silk.md)
- *The Robbers* (2009), as Sue Brockman
- *Trinity* (2009), series, as Dr. Angela Donne
- *Moving On* (2009), series, as Mary Ann
- *Lark Rise to Candleford* (2008), series, Actor
- *Sense and Sensibility* (2008), series, as Fanny Dashwood
- *And When Did You Last See Your Father?* (2007), as Gillian
- *Outnumbered* (2007), series, as Sue — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/outnumbered.md)
- *You Can Choose Your Friends* (2007), as Jane Arden
- *Kingdom* (2007), series, as Brenda Collins
- *The Trial of Tony Blair* (2007), as Nicky
- *The Family Man* (2006), series, Actor
- *Class of '76* (2005), as Dr. Kate Tremaine
- *Class of '76* (2005), series, as Dr. Kate Tremaine
- *The Funny Blokes of British Comedy* (2005), as Lucinda (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Amy Murgatroyd
- *Strings* (2004), as Jhinna
- *The Genius of Mozart* (2004), series, as Nannerl Mozart
- *Life Begins* (2004), series, as Clare
- *Eroica* (2003), as Josephine Deym
- *The Booze Cruise* (2003), series, as Leone Sewell
- *The Booze Cruise* (2003), as Leonie Sewell
- *Trevor's World of Sport* (2003), series, as Meryl
- *Murphy's Law* (2001), series, as Alice — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphys-law.md)
- *Bedtime* (2001), series, as Sarah Newcombe
- *Perfect Strangers* (2001), series, as Rebecca
- *Bridget Jones's Diary* (2001), as Magda — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bridget-joness-diary.md)
- *Second Sight* (2000), series, as Catherine Tully
- *Sleepy Hollow* (1999), as Beth Killian — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepy-hollow.md)
- *The Escort* (1999), as Patricia
- *You're Dead...* (1999), as Jo
- *A Dance to the Music of Time* (1997), series, as Jean
- *The Peter Principle* (1997), series, as Susan Harvey
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Kitty Oswood — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Brass Eye* (1997), series, as Mrs Wastrey, Helly Melvick, Board Member/Martha O'Dennell — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/brass-eye.md)
- *The Wingless Bird* (1997), series, as Agnes Conway
- *Clockwork Mice* (1995), as Fairy
- *I.D.* (1995), as Marie
- *The Return of the Native* (1994), as Thomasin
- *Two Golden Balls* (1994), as Linda
- *Naked* (1993), as Sandra — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/naked.md)
- *Chef* (1993), series, as Lucinda
- *Life Is Sweet* (1991), as Natalie — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/life-is-sweet.md)
- *Screen One* (1989), series, as Linda
- *The Rachel Papers* (1989), as Gloria
- *South of the Border* (1988), series, as Laura
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Girl Pupil — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Marie
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Thomasin

## Gallery

- ![Claire Skinner](https://film.one/media/person/77650/gallery-39475e883c40.jpg) Claire Skinner — Image via TMDB
- ![Claire Skinner](https://film.one/media/person/77650/gallery-46b00a8372e4.jpg) Claire Skinner — 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-skinner