---
name: "Ruth Sheen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruth-sheen"
fi1m_id: "ruth-sheen"
imdb_id: "nm0790689"
tmdb_id: 53367
wikidata_id: "Q436451"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 January 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-07T20:07:46.643288+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."
---

# Ruth Sheen

## Identity

Ruth Sheen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ruth-sheen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ruth-sheen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0790689
- **TMDB ID:** 53367
- **Wikidata ID:** Q436451
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Sheen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q436451, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790689/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53367

Actor. Born 1 January 1952 in London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 January 1952, London, England, UK
- **Active:** 1996–present
- **Also known as:** روث شین
- **Frequently works with:** [Mike Leigh](https://film.one/person/mike-leigh.md), [Georgina Lowe](https://film.one/person/georgina-lowe.md), [Lesley Manville](https://film.one/person/lesley-manville.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 82 (2), 2010s 79 (5), 2020s 72 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 78 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Comedy 6, Crime 4, Mystery 3, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2, History 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $73m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Sheen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q436451, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790689/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53367

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Another Year*](https://film.one/film/another-year.md) (87)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Vera Drake*](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md) (84)

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

## Fi1m on Ruth Sheen

> Ruth Sheen is Mike Leigh's listener: the woman at the kitchen table who hears everyone out and does not say what it costs her. Six films with him have made her the steadiest presence in his ensembles, and *Another Year* (2010) is the one to start with.

Watch Ruth Sheen in a Mike Leigh film and you will mostly be watching her listen. In *Another Year* (2010) Gerri counsels patients at a doctors' surgery for a living, then goes home to Tom (Jim Broadbent), the allotment and a kitchen that keeps filling with lonely people who need her more than she needs them. She does not make speeches. She cooks what they have grown, asks a question and waits, and Sheen makes the waiting the centre of the film. We scored it 87 and would send most people to it.

She has been doing this for Leigh since *High Hopes* (1988), where she played Shirley and had her breakthrough. Five more films with him followed, among them *Secrets & Lies* (1996), *Vera Drake* (2004) and *Mr. Turner* (2014), where she plays Sarah Danby, the artist's long-term partner. Around them runs a steady line of television: *Bramwell*, *Brassic*, *Strike*. That is the shape of the career: an ensemble actor who has spent most of it in other people's rooms, and made the rooms better.

Leigh builds his films through improvisation, and Sheen's reputation rests on being good at it. She has called it "a unique way of working... He's quite a hard taskmaster." The method suits a performer who works by attention rather than display, and it also explains why she is so rarely the name on the poster. In *Vera Drake* she is Lily, a small part in a film that belongs to Imelda Staunton; our review scored it 84 and did not single her out. That is the ensemble player's bargain. The film works, and nobody notices you holding up your corner of it.

*Another Year* is where the bargain pays out. Lesley Manville's Mary is the one falling apart, and she is unbearable and heartbreaking at once, but we found ourselves more moved by Gerri, who has to sit across from her and take it. Sheen lets us see that being the one who is fine is also work. Our reservation about the film was how sure Leigh is that Tom and Gerri are right and everyone else is to blame, and that certainty rests on Sheen. She carries it without once looking pleased with herself, which is harder than it sounds.

The only complaint anyone makes about her is that she is almost always in support, and almost always for Leigh. A lead written for her elsewhere would be worth the wait. Until it arrives, put on *Another Year* and watch the one who is not talking.

## Biography

Ruth Sheen is an English actress. She trained at the East 15 Acting School and has appeared regularly in British films and television since the late 1980s. She has worked frequently with director Mike Leigh, playing Shirley in *High Hopes* (1988), a laughing woman in *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Maureen in *All or Nothing* (2002), Lily in *Vera Drake* (2004) and Gerri in *Another Year* (2010). Her performance in *High Hopes* won the European Film Award for Best Actress in 1989.

Sheen has also appeared in films including *Run Fatboy Run* (2007), *Welcome to the Punch* (2013), *A Street Cat Named Bob* (2016) and *Mr. Turner* (2014). On television she has had roles in series such as *Bramwell*, *Misfits*, *Gangs of London* and *Hijack*. In theatre she played Lyn in the 2007 premiere of Philip Ridley's *Leaves of Glass* at the Soho Theatre.

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

## On Fi1m (11)

- *The Thursday Murder Club* (2025), Fi1m 57, as Aunt Maud — [page](https://film.one/film/the-thursday-murder-club.md)
- *Cyrano* (2021), Fi1m 75, as Mother Marthe — [page](https://film.one/film/cyrano.md)
- *It's a Sin* (2021), Fi1m 84, as Sandra — [page](https://film.one/tv/its-a-sin.md)
- *Brassic* (2019), Fi1m 76, as Kath — [page](https://film.one/tv/brassic.md)
- *Unforgotten* (2015), Fi1m 64, as Lizzie Wilton — [page](https://film.one/tv/unforgotten.md)
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Elizabeth Gadge — [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Mr. Turner* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Sarah Danby — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-turner.md)
- *Another Year* (2010), Fi1m 87, as Gerri — [page](https://film.one/film/another-year.md)
- *Misfits* (2009), Fi1m 80, as Maggie — [page](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md)
- *Vera Drake* (2004), Fi1m 84, as Lily — [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *Secrets & Lies* (1996), Fi1m 88, as Laughing Woman — [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md)

## Complete filmography (74)

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

- *The Thursday Murder Club* (2025), as Aunt Maud — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-thursday-murder-club.md)
- *Touch* (2024), as Mrs. Ellis
- *The After* (2024), as Tabatha
- *Hijack* (2023), series, as Elaine Atterton — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/hijack.md)
- *Sweetly It Turns* (2023), as Joy
- *Cyrano* (2021), as Mother Marthe — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/cyrano.md)
- *The Nevers* (2021), series, as Mrs. Beechum
- *It's a Sin* (2021), series, as Sandra — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/its-a-sin.md)
- *Gangs of London* (2020), series, as Deborah Devereux — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/gangs-of-london.md)
- *Brassic* (2019), series, as Kath — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/brassic.md)
- *VS.* (2018), as Fiona
- *The Woman in White* (2018), series, as Mrs Clements
- *Strike* (2017), series, as Pat Chauncey
- *Prime Suspect 1973* (2017), series, as Renee Bentley
- *A Street Cat Named Bob* (2016), as Elsie
- *SuperBob* (2015), as Pat
- *Unforgotten* (2015), series, as Lizzie Wilton — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/unforgotten.md)
- *A Royal Night Out* (2015), as Jack's Mum
- *The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge* (2015), as Elizabeth Gadge
- *Mr. Turner* (2014), as Sarah Danby — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-turner.md)
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Elizabeth Gadge — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Welcome to the Punch* (2013), as Iris Warns
- *The Mimic* (2013), series, as Mrs Hurdle
- *Accused* (2010), series, as Mo's Mum — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/accused.md)
- *Another Year* (2010), as Gerri — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/another-year.md)
- *The Hardest Part* (2010), as Bus Lady
- *Heartless* (2010), as Marion Morgan
- *Misfits* (2009), series, as Maggie — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md)
- *Brave Young Men* (2009), as Stephanie Malloy
- *Fanny Hill* (2007), as Mrs. Jones
- *Fanny Hill* (2007), series, as Mrs Jones
- *Run Fatboy Run* (2007), as Claudine
- *A Class Apart* (2007), series, as Ruth
- *A Class Apart* (2007), as Ruth - Candy's mum
- *Hush Your Mouth* (2007), as Mrs Collins
- *Vital Signs* (2006), series, as Val
- *Imagine Me & You* (2006), as Mrs Webster
- *The English Harem* (2005), as Emily
- *Footprints in the Snow* (2005), as Lady Victualler
- *Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky* (2005), series, as Aunt Winnie
- *Vera Drake* (2004), as Lily — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *Vanity Fair* (2004), as Miss Pinkerton
- *Cheeky* (2003), as Tamara
- *All or Nothing* (2002), as Maureen
- *Plain Jane* (2002), as May
- *Lorna Doone* (2001), as Betty Muxworthy
- *Lorna Doone* (2000), series, as Betty Muxworthy
- *Never Never* (2000), series, as Sandra
- *Bait* (2000), as Cafe Woman
- *Don Quixote* (2000), as 1st Wench / Young Lady
- *Virtual Sexuality* (1999), as Jackie Lovett
- *Berkeley Square* (1998), series, as Nanny Simmons
- *The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling* (1997), series, as Mrs. Harris
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Valerie Horton — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Different for Girls* (1996), as Nosy neighbour
- *Secrets & Lies* (1996), as Laughing Woman — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/secrets-and-lies.md)
- *Silent Witness* (1996), series, Actor
- *Bramwell* (1995), series, Actor
- *The Young Poisoner's Handbook* (1995), as Molly
- *Sin Bin* (1994), as Viv Hastings
- *Cracker* (1993), series, as Jean McIlvanney, Jean McIIvanney — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *When Pigs Fly* (1993), as Marge
- *Peak Practice* (1993), series, as Pauline Wadham
- *Ghostwatch* (1992), as Emma Stableford (voice)
- *A Fatal Inversion* (1992), as Forensic Scientist
- *Clubland* (1991), as Karen
- *Night Voice* (1990), as Helen Baldwin
- *High Hopes* (1989), as Shirley
- *The Angry Earth* (1989), as Nurse Berry
- *Little Dorrit* (1987), as Society Lady
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Barbara George — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Karen
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Viv Hastings
- *The Bill* (1984), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Ruth Sheen](https://film.one/media/person/98638/gallery-a16069aa289e.jpg) Ruth Sheen — W!ZARD Radio Media, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Ruth_Sheen_at_Mr_Turner_premiere.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ruth Sheen](https://film.one/media/person/98638/gallery-d3832a4a8dfa.jpg) Ruth Sheen — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruth Sheen](https://film.one/media/person/98638/gallery-4d086abac085.jpg) Ruth Sheen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- European Film Award for Best Actress 1989: European Film Award for Best Actress (won), for *High Hopes*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/ruth-sheen