--- name: "Frances Barber" canonical: "https://film.one/person/frances-barber" roles: [] born: "13 May 1958" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 78 average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-18T07:49:49.030788+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." --- # Frances Barber Actor. Born 13 May 1958 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK. ## Details - **Born:** 13 May 1958, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK - **Active:** 1987–2011 - **Also known as:** فرانسس باربر - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (2), 2000s 74 (1), 2010s 74 (1) - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Crime 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1 - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Barber, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5478514, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0053384/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47644 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*Friday Night Dinner*](https://film.one/tv/friday-night-dinner.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Frances Barber is an English actress born on 13 May 1958 in Wolverhampton. She studied drama at the University College of North Wales in Bangor and has worked extensively in theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. She received Olivier Award nominations for her stage performances in *Camille* (1985) and *Uncle Vanya* (1997). Her screen credits include the films *Prick Up Your Ears* (1987), *Sammy and Rosie Get Laid* (1987), *We Think the World of You* (1988), *Soft Top Hard Shoulder* (1992), *Dead Fish* (2005) and *Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool* (2017), as well as television roles such as Sheila Bloom in *Friday Night Dinner* (2011), Madame Kovarian in *Doctor Who* (2011), Doctor Mendall in *The IT Crowd* (2006) and appearances in *Midsomer Murders* (1997) and *Death in Paradise* (2011). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Friday Night Dinner* (2011), Fi1m 74, as Sheila Bloom — [page](https://film.one/tv/friday-night-dinner.md) - *The Street* (2006), Fi1m 74, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-street.md) - *Red Dwarf* (1988), Fi1m 80, as Genny — [page](https://film.one/tv/red-dwarf.md) - *Inspector Morse* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Nicole Burgess — [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md) ## Complete filmography (149) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The State of Us* (2026), as Joan - *MUSIK* (2026), Acting - *A Hand to Hold* (2026), as Moira - *The Secret Santa Project* (2025), as Carol - *The People Before* (2025), Acting - *Hamlet* (2024), as First Player / Player Queen / Second Clown - *Dreamland* (2023), series, as Cheryl - *A Bird Flew In* (2022), as Marie - *The Chelsea Detective* (2022), series, as Olivia Arnold - *A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Mezzotint* (2021), as Mrs Ambrigail - *Whitstable Pearl* (2021), series, as Dolly Nolan - *Semi-Detached* (2020), series, as Patricia - *Trick or Treat* (2019), as Miss Ferguson - *Queens of Mystery* (2019), series, as Viv Collins - *The Queen and I* (2018), as Princess Margaret - *Blue Iguana* (2018), as Princess - *An Ideal Husband* (2018), as Mrs. Cheveley - *McKellen: Playing the Part* (2018), Acting - *The Escape* (2018), as Alison - *Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool* (2017), as Joy - *The Bookshop* (2017), as Jessie Welford - *Summer Comedy Shorts* (2017), series, as Mum - *The Chosen* (2016), as Natalia Sedova - *The Rebel* (2016), series, as Angela - *Mr. Holmes* (2015), as Matinee "Madame Schirmer" - *Mapp and Lucia* (2014), series, as Amelia, Contessa di Faraglione - *Bucky* (2014), as Miss Eversham - *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Lesley — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md) - *Bad Education: Christmas Special* (2013), as Alfie's Mum - *Psychobitches* (2013), series, as Bette Davis, Doris Stokes, Catherine the Great, Elizabeth I, St Catherine, Whistler's Mother, Thora Hind, Josephine-Joseph, Barbara Cartland - *The Spa* (2013), series, as Ginny - *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Davina Malmort - *May I Kill U?* (2013), as Bernice - *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as Bette Davis, Doris Stokes, Catherine the Great - *We'll Take Manhattan* (2012), as Diana Vreeland - *Great Expectations* (2011), series, as Mrs. Brandley - *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Diana Watson - *Friday Night Dinner* (2011), series, as Sheila Bloom — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/friday-night-dinner.md) - *Silk* (2011), series, as Caroline Warwick QC - *The Nativity* (2010), series, as Elizabeth - *Vexed* (2010), series, as Pat Poynter - *Pete versus Life* (2010), series, Acting - *The Fattest Man in Britain* (2009), as Janice - *Law & Order: UK* (2009), series, Acting - *Bremner, Bird and Fortune: Silly Money* (2008), series, as Dinner Guest - *Beautiful People* (2008), series, as Miss Prentice - *King Lear* (2008), as Goneril - *Goal II: Living the Dream* (2007), as Carol Harmison - *Benidorm* (2007), series, as Daisy - *The Street* (2006), series, Acting — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-street.md) - *The IT Crowd* (2006), series, as Doctor Mendall - *Hotel Babylon* (2006), series, Acting - *Funland* (2005), series, as Connie Woolf - *Dead Fish* (2005), as S & M Prostitute - *Goal!* (2005), as Carol Harmison - *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Madame Kovarian, Eye Patch Lady — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md) - *His Passionate Bride* (2005), as Narrator (voice) - *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Lizzie Hinchcliffe - *Evilenko* (2004), as Fenja Evilenka - *The Legend of the Tamworth Two* (2004), as Miss Piggy (voice) - *Hustle* (2004), series, as Clarissa - *New Tricks* (2004), series, Acting - *Listening* (2003), as Woman - *Boudica* (2003), as Agrippina - *Monkey Dust* (2003), series, as (voice) - *Flyfishing* (2003), as Frances - *Celeb* (2002), series, Acting - *The Red Siren* (2002), as Eva - *Having It Off* (2002), series, Acting - *Superstition* (2001), as Isabella Flores - *The Gentleman Thief* (2001), as Julia Sinclair - *The Children's Midsummer Night's Dream* (2001), Thanks - *Love in a Cold Climate* (2001), series, as The Bolter - *Esther Kahn* (2000), as Rivka Kahn - *Shiner* (2000), as Georgie - *The Escort* (1999), as Jessica - *Bremner, Bird and Fortune* (1999), series, Acting - *Plastic Man* (1999), series, as Louise Ferman - *Plastic Man* (1999), as Louise Ferman - *Toy Boys* (1999), as Mrs. Chambers - *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999), series, as Janine - *Still Crazy* (1998), as Lady in Black - *Real Women* (1998), series, as Anna Nicholls - *Tea* (1998), as Woman - *Just in Time* (1998), Acting - *A Royal Scandal* (1997), as Lady Jersey - *Photographing Fairies* (1997), as Beatrice Templeton - *The Ice House* (1997), series, as Diana Goode - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Ingrid Lockston, Constance Fielding - *Circles of Deceit: Sleeping Dogs* (1996), as Annie Shepherd - *Rhodes* (1996), series, as Princess Catherine Radziwill - *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Amanda 'Cap' Marvell - *It Might Be You* (1995), as Wendy - *Aristophanes: The Gods Are Laughing* (1995), as Adonia - *Rik Mayall Presents: Dirty Old Town* (1995), as Sally Denton - *3 Steps to Heaven* (1995), as Andrea Wallis - *Scarborough Ahoy!* (1994), as Maria - *Giorgino* (1994), as Marie - *Space Precinct* (1994), series, as Erika Brandt - *Deep in My Heart - Germaine and Benjamin* (1994), as Anna Lindsay - *In The Cold Light Of Day* (1994), as Mother - *Return to Blood River* (1994), as Karen - *Fish Tale* (1994), as Helen Wormsley - *Thatcherworld* (1993), as Penny Jenkins - *Rik Mayall Presents* (1993), series, as Sally Denton - *A Statement of Affairs* (1993), as Pip - *Chef* (1993), series, as Anita Lawrence - *Soft Top Hard Shoulder* (1993), as Miss Trumble - *The Leaving of Liverpool* (1992), series, Acting - *The Leaving of Liverpool* (1992), as Ellen, Lil's Mother - *The Storyteller: Greek Myths* (1991), series, as Medusa - *Murder Most Horrid* (1991), series, as Gloria Twigge - *Hancock* (1991), as Freddie Hancock - *Young Soul Rebels* (1991), as Ann - *Secret Friends* (1991), as Angela - *Do Not Disturb* (1991), as Jenny - *The Orchid House* (1991), series, as Joan - *The Grasscutter* (1990), as Claire Deeds - *Separate Bedrooms* (1989), as Gert - *The Nightmare Years* (1989), series, as Helga Bauer - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Freddie Hancock - *Behaving Badly* (1989), series, Acting - *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Lady Millicent, Merlina Rival - *Twelfth Night, or What You Will* (1988), as Viola / Cesario - *We Think the World of You* (1988), as Megan - *Red Dwarf* (1988), series, as Genny — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/red-dwarf.md) - *The Modern World: Ten Great Writers* (1988), series, as Winnie Verloc - *Duck* (1988), Acting - *Sammy and Rosie Get Laid* (1987), as Rosie - *Prick Up Your Ears* (1987), as Leonie Orton - *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Nicole Burgess — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md) - *Casualty* (1986), series, as Nancy - *Castaway* (1986), as Sister Saint Winifred - *A Zed & Two Noughts* (1985), as Venus de Milo - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Jenny Coldfield, Karen, Mother - *White City* (1985), as Alice - *Hard Feelings* (1984), as Viv - *A Flame to the Phoenix* (1983), as Wanda Grabinska - *Those Glory Glory Days* (1983), as Woman - *Reilly: Ace of Spies* (1983), series, as Dagmara - *Acceptable Levels* (1983), as Jill - *The Missionary* (1982), as Mission Girl - *Timewatch* (1982), series, as Annie Besant - *Home Sweet Home* (1982), as Melody - *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, as Mrs Ambrigail - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Melody - *Omnibus* (1967), series, Acting - *From London with Love*, Acting - *A Mother For An Hour*, as Nestan --- © 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/frances-barber