---
name: "Kathy Burke"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kathy-burke"
fi1m_id: "kathy-burke"
imdb_id: "nm0121755"
tmdb_id: 37759
wikidata_id: "Q444306"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 June 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T14:53:26.310969+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."
---

# Kathy Burke

## Identity

Kathy Burke

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kathy-burke
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kathy-burke
- **IMDb ID:** nm0121755
- **TMDB ID:** 37759
- **Wikidata ID:** Q444306
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Burke, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q444306, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121755/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/37759

Actor. Born 13 June 1964 in Camden, London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 June 1964, Camden, London, England, UK
- **Active:** 1986–present
- **Also known as:** 캐시 버크
- **Frequently works with:** [Tim Bevan](https://film.one/person/tim-bevan.md), [Eric Fellner](https://film.one/person/eric-fellner.md), [Gary Oldman](https://film.one/person/gary-oldman.md), [Hugh Jackman](https://film.one/person/hugh-jackman.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (4), 2000s 64 (1), 2010s 61 (2), 2020s 63 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 68 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 3, Adventure 2, Family 2, History 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $470m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Burke, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q444306, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121755/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/37759

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Flushed Away*](https://film.one/film/flushed-away.md) (64)
- **Apple TV:** [*Blitz*](https://film.one/film/blitz.md) (63)
- **HBO Max:** [*Pan*](https://film.one/film/pan.md) (38)

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

## Fi1m on Kathy Burke

> Kathy Burke’s comic timing matters as much to her drama as to her grotesques. We value her most in *Nil by Mouth*, where she makes a woman’s exhaustion felt without letting it become everything we know about her.

In *Nil by Mouth* (1997), Kathy Burke makes Valerie look worn out by the business of carrying on. There is no invitation to congratulate her for it. We were moved by the sense that this woman could still be enjoyable company, because Burke keeps her warmth apparent even in appalling circumstances. Valerie has a life beyond her suffering, and Burke makes us want to spend time with her.

The broad comedy is worth remembering alongside that performance. Burke built her television profile through Harry Enfield’s sketches in the 1990s, with Waynetta Slob among her grotesque creations. Linda La Hughes in *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999–2001) continued that work, using timing and physical characterisation to make an unpleasant person funny. Her dramatic breakthrough with *Nil by Mouth* came between those comic roles, not after she had finished with them. Treating it as a comedian suddenly learning to act would miss the skill already there.

Gary Oldman’s writing helps by giving Valerie and her family humour and the sound of south London speech. Alongside Ray Winstone’s frightening performance, Burke gives the film much of its warmth, while Charlie Creed-Miles, Laila Morse and Edna Doré make the family feel particular. Oldman gets so much from the actors that the explanatory speech feels unnecessary; we have understood what it stops to tell us. Burke’s restraint matters here: she makes endurance tiring, rather than presenting it as something admirable.

Her screen appearances became occasional after the early 2000s, when she largely turned to theatre and television directing. Connie Sachs in *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011) and Beryl in Steve McQueen’s *Blitz* (2024) belong to those selective returns. *Blitz* also shows the limits of what a forceful supporting presence can do. Burke and Stephen Graham, as Beryl and Albert, arrive in an episode that changes the tone so sharply it seems to belong to another genre. For the clearest reason to seek her out, give *Nil by Mouth* an evening when there is room for something gruelling.

## Biography

Kathy Burke is an English actress, comedian, writer and director. Born on 13 June 1964 in London, she trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington and made her screen debut in the 1982 film *Scrubbers*.

She is known for television roles including Magda in *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992–2012) and Linda La Hughes in *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999–2001), as well as film appearances in *Sid and Nancy* (1986), *Elizabeth* (1998), *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011) and *Blitz* (2024) as Beryl. Burke won the Best Actress award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in *Nil by Mouth*.

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

## On Fi1m (8)

- *Blitz* (2024), Fi1m 63, as Beryl — [page](https://film.one/film/blitz.md)
- *Pan* (2015), Fi1m 38, as Mother Barnabas — [page](https://film.one/film/pan.md)
- *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), Fi1m 84, as Connie Sachs — [page](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md)
- *Flushed Away* (2006), Fi1m 64, as Rita's Mum (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/flushed-away.md)
- *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999), Fi1m 52, as Linda La Hughes — [page](https://film.one/tv/gimme-gimme-gimme.md)
- *Elizabeth* (1998), Fi1m 82, as Queen Mary Tudor — [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth.md)
- *Nil by Mouth* (1997), Fi1m 87, as Valerie — [page](https://film.one/film/nil-by-mouth.md)
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), Fi1m 81, as Magda — [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)

## Complete filmography (83)

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

- *Blitz* (2024), as Beryl — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/blitz.md)
- *The Sea Beast* (2022), as Gwen Batterbee (voice)
- *Holding* (2022), series, Director
- *Lady Windermere's Fan* (2018), Director
- *School of Roars* (2017), series, as Ms. Grizzlesniff
- *British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves* (2016), as Linda (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie* (2016), as Magda
- *Crashing* (2016), series, as Great Aunt Gladys
- *Pan* (2015), as Mother Barnabas — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/pan.md)
- *An Evening with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse* (2015), Actor
- *Duck Quacks Don't Echo* (2014), series, Actor
- *Psychobitches* (2013), series, as Mona Lisa, The Queen Mother · Writer
- *Walking and Talking* (2012), as Angry Nun · Writer, Executive Producer
- *Walking and Talking* (2012), series, Writer, Creator
- *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as Mona Lisa · Writer
- *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), as Connie Sachs — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md)
- *The Antics Roadshow* (2011), as Narrator (voice)
- *Comedy Showcase* (2007), series, as The Virgin Mary
- *A Bucket O' French and Saunders* (2007), series, Actor
- *Flushed Away* (2006), as Rita's Mum (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/flushed-away.md)
- *Johnny Vegas: 18 Stone of Idiot - Unseen and Uncut* (2005), as Guest
- *Harry & Paul* (2005), series, Actor
- *Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky* (2005), series, as Jenny's Landlady
- *Anita and Me* (2002), as Mrs. Rutter, Mrs. Diedre Rutter
- *Once Upon a Time in the Midlands* (2002), as Carol
- *The Martins* (2001), as Angie Martin
- *Kevin & Perry Go Large* (2000), as Perry
- *Love, Honour and Obey* (2000), as Kathy
- *Harry Enfield Presents Kevin's Guide to Being a Teenager* (1999), as Perry
- *Let Them Eat Cake* (1999), series, Actor
- *This Year's Love* (1999), as Marey
- *Gimme Gimme Gimme* (1999), series, as Linda La Hughes · Script Editor — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/tv/gimme-gimme-gimme.md)
- *Ted & Ralph* (1998), as Mrs. Ted
- *Rex the Runt* (1998), series, as Mrs. Mandelbrotska (voice)
- *Elizabeth* (1998), as Queen Mary Tudor — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth.md)
- *Dancing at Lughnasa* (1998), as Margaret 'Maggie' Mundy
- *The End* (1998), Writer
- *The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling* (1997), series, as Honour
- *Nil by Mouth* (1997), as Valerie — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/nil-by-mouth.md)
- *Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout* (1996), as Magda
- *VIZ: Oh, Lordy! It's The Fat Slags in Blue Honeymoon* (1996), as Sandra
- *TFI Friday* (1996), series, Actor
- *After Miss Julie* (1995), as Christine
- *Hello, Hello, Hello* (1995), as Jo Thomas
- *French and Saunders' Christmas Carol* (1994), as Mistress Shag
- *Harry Enfield and Chums* (1994), series, as Various Characters
- *Common As Muck* (1994), series, as Sharon
- *Sin Bin* (1994), as Debbie
- *Jealousy* (1993), as Waitress
- *Mr. Wroe's Virgins* (1993), series, as Martha
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), series, as Magda — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)
- *Murder Most Horrid* (1991), series, as Helen
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Christine
- *Morrissey - Hulmerist* (1991), as Cast - Ouija Board, Ouija Board
- *Harry Enfield's Television Programme* (1990), series, Actor
- *Amongst Barbarians* (1990), as Lilly
- *South Atlantic Raiders:  Part 2 Argie Bargie!* (1990), as Mary
- *South Atlantic Raiders: Part 1* (1990), as Mary
- *Work Experience* (1989), as Sally
- *French And Saunders - Christmas Special '88* (1988), as Kim
- *The Black and Blue Lamp* (1988), as Voiceover
- *Funseekers* (1988), as Charlotte
- *Walker* (1987), as Annie Mae
- *This Year's Model* (1987), as Mary
- *Straight to Hell* (1987), as Sabrina
- *Two of Us* (1987), as Vera
- *French & Saunders* (1987), series, Actor
- *Past Caring* (1986), as Angie
- *Sid and Nancy* (1986), as Brenda Windzor
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Lorraine McCullier — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *Call Me Mister* (1986), series, Actor
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Voiceover, Lily
- *A Very Peculiar Practice* (1986), series, as Alice — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-very-peculiar-practice.md)
- *The Best Years of Your Life* (1986), as Paula
- *Ladies in Charge* (1986), series, as Daisy
- *Sacred Hearts* (1985), as Tillie
- *Bleak House* (1985), series, as Guster
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Debbie
- *The Bill* (1984), series, Actor
- *A Visitor from Outer Space* (1983), as Tina
- *Forever Young* (1983), as Girl
- *The Comic Strip Presents...* (1982), series, as Charlotte, Mary
- *Scrubbers* (1982), as Glennis

---
© 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/kathy-burke