--- name: "Kate Ashfield" canonical: "https://film.one/person/kate-ashfield" fi1m_id: "kate-ashfield" imdb_id: "nm0038918" tmdb_id: 11110 wikidata_id: "Q509628" roles: ["Actor"] born: "28 May 1972" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-10-07T18:32:55.269745+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." --- # Kate Ashfield ## Identity Kate Ashfield - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kate-ashfield - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** kate-ashfield - **IMDb ID:** nm0038918 - **TMDB ID:** 11110 - **Wikidata ID:** Q509628 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Ashfield, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q509628, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038918/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11110 Actor. Born 28 May 1972 in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 28 May 1972, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK - **Active:** 2000–2019 - **Also known as:** کیت اشفیلد - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 85 (1), 2010s 80 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Ashfield, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q509628, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038918/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11110 ## Streaming the US now - **Peacock:** [*Shaun of the Dead*](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md) (85) - **BritBox:** [*A Confession*](https://film.one/tv/a-confession.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Kate Ashfield > Kate Ashfield gives *Shaun of the Dead* a girlfriend whose objections matter as much as the hero’s efforts. We rate her ability to be funny without making a character’s unhappiness seem trivial. Liz does not treat Shaun’s attempt to improve as sufficient reason to be impressed. In Edgar Wright’s *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), Kate Ashfield makes that reluctance feel reasonable rather than obstructive. Simon Pegg can make taking charge look exhausting, but Ashfield keeps his effort from settling the romantic question by itself. We found ourselves caring about Liz’s frustration, because Ashfield makes Shaun’s ordinary failings matter even with zombies approaching. That part brought wider recognition, but her earlier screen work gives a useful context for it. *Late Night Shopping* (2001), in which she plays Jody, established her as a leading presence in British independent cinema. *This Little Life* (2003) gave her Sadie MacGregor in a drama about premature birth, a more directly demanding setting for her naturalistic acting. Those dramatic roles help explain what she brings to comedy: she takes a character’s unhappiness seriously enough for us to recognise it, without insisting that the laughter stop. Wright’s ensemble makes good use of that seriousness. Pegg and Nick Frost give Shaun and Ed a persuasive affection without making either man especially admirable, and Ashfield does not need to compete with their bickering to hold our interest. Her resistance keeps the romantic scenes from simply rewarding Shaun for making an effort. The later horror business is more familiar, and a well-judged supporting performance cannot make every development fresh. Still, the cast gives us reasons to remain interested in how these people deal with one another, beyond the immediate problem of staying alive. Her subsequent work has moved between independent films and mainstream television, with writing becoming another part of it. Co-creating the psychological thriller *Born to Kill* (2017) meant developing material concerned with family and moral questions. Playing Mary Parker in *Sanditon* (2019) continued her acting work in a different setting, the period drama. The writing is worth following, though it would be premature to use it to explain every choice she makes as a performer. Start with *Shaun of the Dead*, and give Ashfield as much attention as the men making the difficulties. ## Biography Kate Ashfield is an English actress and screenwriter. She trained at Rose Bruford College and began her career in the 1990s with stage, television and film roles. She is known for her performances in *Late Night Shopping* (2001), for which she won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress; *This Little Life* (2003); and as Liz in *Shaun of the Dead* (2004). Other credits include *Byzantium* (2013), *Bodies* (2023) and voice work in *His Dark Materials* (2019). Ashfield co-wrote the 2017 television series *Born to Kill*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *A Confession* (2019), Fi1m 80, as Yvonne Fulcher — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-confession.md) - *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), Fi1m 85, as Liz — [page](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md) ## Complete filmography (81) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Harlan Coben's Lazarus* (2025), series, as Detective Alison Brown - *Moonflower Murders* (2024), series, as Joanne Webster - *Double Blind* (2024), as Helen Brady - *Stockholm Bloodbath* (2024), as Birgitta - *Bodies* (2023), series, as Elaine Morley - *There's Always Hope* (2023), as Samantha - *Süü* (2021), series, Creator - *Life* (2020), series, as Rachel - *Man in Room 301* (2019), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator - *Exit Plan* (2019), as Fake Mother - *His Dark Materials* (2019), series, as Atal (voice) - *Rachel* (2019), as Teresa - *A Confession* (2019), series, as Yvonne Fulcher — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-confession.md) - *Sanditon* (2019), series, as Mary Parker - *Seat 25* (2018), as Narrator - *Sick of It* (2018), series, as Zoe - *Unspeakable* (2017), as Sally - *Born to Kill* (2017), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator - *The House Sitter* (2015), as Sara Lawrence - *Counting Backwards* (2015), as Adult Sally - *Still* (2015), as Margaret - *Hangman* (2015), as Beth - *Secrets and Lies* (2015), series, as Vanessa Richardson - *Nymphomaniac: Vol. II* (2013), as Therapist - *Believe* (2013), as Helen - *Byzantium* (2013), as Gabi - *Line of Duty* (2012), series, as Jools Gates — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/line-of-duty.md) - *When the Lights Went Out* (2012), as Jenny - *7lives* (2011), as Cynthia - *Late Bloomers* (2011), as Giulia - *United* (2011), as Alma George - *The Kid* (2010), as Madeline - *Collision* (2009), series, as Ann Stallwood - *The Diary of Anne Frank* (2009), series, as Miep Gies - *The Diary of Anne Frank* (2009), as Miep Gies - *War School* (2009), Actor - *The Children* (2008), series, as Natasha - *10 Days to War* (2008), series, as Veronica Purkiss - *Never Better* (2008), series, Actor - *Talk to Me* (2007), series, as Kelly - *The Baker* (2007), as Rhiannon - *Tsunami: The Aftermath* (2006), series, as Ellen Webb - *Random Quest* (2006), as Ottilie / Kate - *The Trouble with Men and Women* (2006), as Susie - *Secret Smile* (2005), series, as Miranda - *Perfect Day* (2005), as Jenny - *Sweetnightgoodheart* (2005), as Juliet - *The Best Man* (2005), as Becka - *Bottom Mindless Violence* (2004), as Mrs. Hardy (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Spivs* (2004), as Jenny - *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), as Liz — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md) - *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Hilary Newell - *Fakers* (2004), as Eve Evans - *Beyond Borders* (2003), as Kat - *Collusion* (2003), as Sally Waterville - *Killing Hitler* (2003), as Rachel - *This Little Life* (2003), as Sadie MacGregor - *Flyfishing* (2003), as Helen - *Pollyanna* (2003), as Nancy - *Perfect* (2003), as Rachel - *The Last Minute* (2002), as Janey - *Pure* (2002), as Helen - *Crime and Punishment* (2002), as Dounia - *Crime and Punishment* (2002), series, as Dounia - *Late Night Shopping* (2001), as Jody - *Please!* (2001), as Molly - *Do or Die* (2001), series, as Samantha - *The Low Down* (2001), as Ruby - *Christie Malry's Own Double-Entry* (2000), as Carol - *A Many Splintered Thing* (2000), series, Actor - *Storm Damage* (2000), as Kay - *Guest House Paradiso* (1999), as Mrs. Hardy - *Watership Down* (1999), series, as Primrose (voice) - *Love in the 21st Century* (1999), series, as Kate - *The War Zone* (1999), as Lucy - *The Man* (1999), as Kim - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Helen Caxton — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md) - *Silent Witness* (1996), series, as C.I. Rebecca Woods - *Princess Caraboo* (1994), as Ella - *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, as Helper — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) - *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Miss Wills — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md) --- © 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/kate-ashfield