--- name: "Lesley Sharp" canonical: "https://film.one/person/lesley-sharp" fi1m_id: "lesley-sharp" imdb_id: "nm0789093" tmdb_id: 80366 wikidata_id: "Q458252" roles: ["Actor"] born: "3 April 1960" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-07T15:42:57.863248+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." --- # Lesley Sharp ## Identity Lesley Sharp - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lesley-sharp - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** lesley-sharp - **IMDb ID:** nm0789093 - **TMDB ID:** 80366 - **Wikidata ID:** Q458252 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Sharp, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q458252, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789093/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/80366 Actor. Born 3 April 1960 in Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 3 April 1960, Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK - **Active:** 1993–present - **Frequently works with:** [Russell T Davies](https://film.one/person/russell-t-davies.md), [Sally Wainwright](https://film.one/person/sally-wainwright.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 82 (2), 2000s 83 (3), 2010s 80 (2), 2020s 80 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 80 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 3 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 7, Comedy 3, Crime 2, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $280m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Sharp, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q458252, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789093/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/80366 ## Streaming the US now - **Peacock:** [*Three Girls*](https://film.one/tv/three-girls.md) (84) - **The Criterion Channel:** [*Naked*](https://film.one/film/naked.md) (84) - **HBO Max:** [*Pillion*](https://film.one/film/pillion.md) (80) - **Apple TV:** [*Scott & Bailey*](https://film.one/tv/scott-and-bailey.md) (75) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Lesley Sharp > Lesley Sharp holds our attention without competing to be the loudest person in the scene. We value her care with ordinary characters, and her ability to make another character's cruelty feel personal. In *Naked* (1993), Johnny can keep talking, but Lesley Sharp's Louise gives us a reason to look elsewhere. Beside David Thewlis's aggressive performance, she does not need a competing speech to make her character matter. She and Katrin Cartlidge, as Sophie, make us notice what his behaviour does to other people. We found the comedy harder to laugh at because their performances kept reminding us who was being hurt. This is where we most value Sharp: she can keep someone else's bravura acting from becoming the only thing a film asks us to watch. Her early screen work with Alan Clarke includes *Rita, Sue and Bob Too* (1987). Mike Leigh's character research and improvisation suit the care she brings to everyday, often working-class women. In *Naked*, that care helps him keep the less forceful characters in view, even when Johnny threatens to exhaust our patience. They worked together again on *Vera Drake* (2004), with Sharp playing Jessie Barnes. It is a useful partnership for an actor who can make a supporting part worth following without demanding that the whole film stop for it. *The Full Monty* (1997), in which she plays Jean Horsefall, brought broader recognition and a warmer sort of ensemble. Peter Cattaneo's comedy is considerate towards its unemployed would-be strippers, and the cast makes that affection feel earned. Sharp is part of that achievement, though we would not argue that the film belongs to her. It remains an easy recommendation, with a reservation that matters: the rush to cheer us up about hardship is quicker than the subject deserves. Television gave her more room, first through *Clocking Off* (2000–2001) and *Bob & Rose* (2001). Lead parts followed in *Afterlife* (2005–2006) and *Scott & Bailey* (2011–2016), where she played DC Janet Scott across five series. That sustained work suits an actor whose strength is in making ordinary people hold our interest. ## Biography Lesley Sharp is an English actress. Born in Manchester on 3 April 1960, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She appeared in Mike Leigh's *Naked* (1993) as Louise and played Jean Horsefall in *The Full Monty* (1997). Other film roles include Kate Eddowes in *From Hell* (2001), Jessie Barnes in *Vera Drake* (2004) and Mortola in *Inkheart* (2008). On television she is known for *Afterlife* (2005–2006), *Scott & Bailey* (2011–2016) and the 2023 series *The Full Monty*. Sharp received a BAFTA Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for *The Full Monty*. She won the RTS Television Award for Best Actress and the Monte-Carlo Golden Nymph for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for *Afterlife*. She is married to actor Nicholas Gleaves. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *Pillion* (2025), Fi1m 80, as Peggy — [page](https://film.one/film/pillion.md) - *Three Girls* (2017), Fi1m 84, as DC Margaret Oliver — [page](https://film.one/tv/three-girls.md) - *Scott & Bailey* (2011), Fi1m 75, as DC Janet Scott — [page](https://film.one/tv/scott-and-bailey.md) - *Cranford* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Mrs Bell — [page](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md) - *Vera Drake* (2004), Fi1m 84, as Jessie Barnes — [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md) - *Clocking Off* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Trudy Graham — [page](https://film.one/tv/clocking-off.md) - *The Full Monty* (1997), Fi1m 81, as Jean Horsefall — [page](https://film.one/film/the-full-monty.md) - *Naked* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Louise — [page](https://film.one/film/naked.md) ## Complete filmography (87) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Pillion* (2025), as Peggy — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/pillion.md) - *Bergerac* (2025), series, as Monica - *MH17: The Plane Crash That Shook The World* (2024), as Narrator - (Voice) - *Red Eye* (2024), series, as Director General Madeline Delaney - *Prime Suspect: Murder In Suburbia* (2024), as Narrator - *The Full Monty* (2023), series, as Jean Horsefall - *Frank Bough: National Treasure, National Disgrace* (2023), as Narrator - *Catherine Called Birdy* (2022), as Morwenna - *Heaven Made* (2021), series, as Narrator - *Help* (2021), as Gaynor - *National Theatre Live: Paradise* (2021), as Philoctetes - *Before We Die* (2021), series, as Hannah Laing - *Fate: The Winx Saga* (2021), series, as Rosalind - *Toxic Town: The Corby Poisonings* (2020), as Narrator (voice) - *Brighton* (2019), as Doreen - *Inside the Bank of England* (2019), series, as Narrator (Voice) - *Dusty and Me* (2018), as Lil Springfield - *Spoon Fed* (2018), as Ellie - *Living the Dream* (2017), series, as Jen Pemberton - *All That You Love Will Be Carried Away* (2017), as Alice - *Three Girls* (2017), series, as DC Margaret Oliver — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/three-girls.md) - *Paranoid* (2016), series, as Lucy Cannonbury - *Capital* (2015), series, as Mary - *Peekaboo* (2015), as Emily - *National Theatre Live: A Taste of Honey* (2014), as Helen - *Married to the Moonies* (2012), as Narrator - *Starlings* (2012), series, Actor - *Shirley* (2011), as Eliza Bassey - *Scott & Bailey* (2011), series, as DC Janet Scott — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/scott-and-bailey.md) - *The Shadow Line* (2011), series, Actor - *Whistle and I'll Come to You* (2010), as Hetty - *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980* (2009), as Joan Hunter - *Moving On* (2009), series, as Sylvie - *Keep It In The Family* (2009), series, Actor - *The Diary of Anne Frank* (2009), series, as Petronella Van Daan - *In Passing* (2009), as Fay Travers - *Inkheart* (2008), as Mortola - *The Children* (2008), series, as Anne - *Cranford* (2007), series, as Mrs Bell — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md) - *Our Hidden Lives* (2005), as Edie Rutherford - *Afterlife* (2005), series, as Alison Mundy - *Monkey Trousers* (2005), series, Actor - *Born With Two Mothers* (2005), as Laura Mayfield - *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Sky Silvestry — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md) - *Planespotting* (2005), as Lesley Coppin - *Vera Drake* (2004), as Jessie Barnes — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md) - *Carrie's War* (2004), as Louisa Evans, aka 'Aunty Lou' - *Carla* (2003), as Helen North - *Cheeky* (2003), as Kath - *The Second Coming* (2003), series, as Judith Roach - *The Second Coming* (2003), as Judith Roach - *Bob & Rose* (2001), series, as Rose Cooper - *From Hell* (2001), as Kate Eddowes - *Aqua Teen Hunger Force* (2000), series, as Glorfinoid (voice) - *Nature Boy* (2000), series, as Martha - *Clocking Off* (2000), series, as Trudy Graham — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/clocking-off.md) - *Daylight Robbery* (1999), series, as Carol Murphy - *Great Expectations* (1999), as Mrs. Joe - *Great Expectations* (1999), series, as Mrs Joe - *Playing the Field* (1998), series, as Theresa Mullen - *The Full Monty* (1997), as Jean Horsefall — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-full-monty.md) - *The Moonstone* (1996), as Rosanna Spearman - *Priest* (1995), as Mrs. Unsworth - *Dandelion Dead* (1994), series, as Constance 'Connie' Martin, nee Davies - *Common As Muck* (1994), series, as Christine Stranks - *Speaking In Tongues* (1994), as Susan - *Stages* (1994), series, as Susan - *Syrup* (1994), as Ms. James - *Naked* (1993), as Louise — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/naked.md) - *Frank Stubbs Promotes* (1993), series, as Petra Dillon - *Nights* (1993), series, Actor - *Close My Eyes* (1991), as Jessica - *Top Girls* (1991), as Dull Gret / Angie - *Performance* (1991), series, as Angie - *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, as Anne Sutherland — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) - *She-Play* (1990), series, Actor - *Wedded* (1990), as Woman - *Night Voice* (1990), as Marion Parkin - *The Rachel Papers* (1989), as Jenny - *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Miss Martindale — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md) - *The Love Child* (1988), as Bernadette - *Road* (1987), as Valerie - *Rita, Sue and Bob Too* (1987), as Michelle - *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Valerie, Marion Parkin, Woman - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Mrs. Unsworth - *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, as Hetty - *Billion Pound Cruises: All At Sea*, as Narrator ## Gallery - ![Lesley Sharp](https://film.one/media/person/82760/gallery-1d8a8c64e6fd.jpg) Lesley Sharp — Simon Richards, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Lesley_Sharp_in_Carla_2003.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Lesley Sharp](https://film.one/media/person/82760/gallery-8178a71a5652.jpg) Lesley Sharp — Image via TMDB - ![Lesley Sharp](https://film.one/media/person/82760/gallery-c62e093af13d.jpg) Lesley Sharp — Image via TMDB - ![Lesley Sharp](https://film.one/media/person/82760/gallery-29e3a62481be.jpg) Lesley Sharp — 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/lesley-sharp