---
name: "Zoë Wanamaker"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zoe-wanamaker"
fi1m_id: "zoe-wanamaker"
imdb_id: "nm0910738"
tmdb_id: 20240
wikidata_id: "Q227142"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 May 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T13:29:17.471118+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."
---

# Zoë Wanamaker

## Identity

Zoë Wanamaker

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zoe-wanamaker
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zoe-wanamaker
- **IMDb ID:** nm0910738
- **TMDB ID:** 20240
- **Wikidata ID:** Q227142
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zo%C3%AB_Wanamaker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q227142, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0910738/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20240

Actor. Born 13 May 1949 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 May 1949, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1985–present
- **Also known as:** Zoe Wanamaker, زوئی وانامیکر, Зої Ванамейкер
- **Frequently works with:** [Michael Hordern](https://film.one/person/michael-hordern.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (1), 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 65 (3), 2010s 73 (2), 2020s 81 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 70 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Crime 3, Action & Adventure 1, Adventure 1, Comedy 1, Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,064m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zo%C3%AB_Wanamaker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q227142, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0910738/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20240

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Prime Suspect*](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) (88), [*Criminal Record*](https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md) (81), [*My Family*](https://film.one/tv/my-family.md) (50)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*My Week with Marilyn*](https://film.one/film/my-week-with-marilyn.md) (62)

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

## Fi1m on Zoë Wanamaker

> Zoë Wanamaker has spent nearly fifty years playing women who are difficult to be in a room with, in comedy and drama alike, with a low voice she rarely needs to raise. Her best television work is the smaller, angrier kind.

Moyra Henson is the place to start. In the first *Prime Suspect* (1991) Zoë Wanamaker plays the partner of John Bowe's George Marlow, a travelling salesman with a pleasant manner and an old conviction, and the police keep coming back. Bowe gives them nothing to read. Wanamaker gives them too much: a loyalty that is half love and half fury at being asked about it, so that every question from the police lands as an insult first and a possibility second. We found her scenes harder to sit through than anything in the interview room. Marlow can hold his face; Moyra cannot, and the not knowing is written all over hers.

The voice is the constant. Wanamaker trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, spent 1976 to 1984 with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and arrived on television in the 1980s and 1990s already sounding like nobody else: low, husky, a little amused. Critics have spent decades reaching for animals to describe the face, part cat and part pixie, and the parts followed the description. She has been cast, over and over, as the eccentric, the formidable or the plainly odd woman, in comedy and in drama, and she has rarely fought it. *Love Hurts* (1992–1994) gave her Tessa Piggott and a wider audience. *My Family* (2000–2011) gave her Susan Harper, the matriarch opposite Robert Lindsay, for eleven series. *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* (2001) gave her Madam Hooch, and it remains the film most people under forty know her from.

She is at her best when the comedy and the nastiness are in the same part. Ariadne Oliver in *Agatha Christie's Poirot* and Clarice Groan in *Gormenghast* are both women who are funny and slightly monstrous at once, and Wanamaker plays them without asking to be liked. On stage the parts have been larger and darker, *Electra* (1997) above all, and the intensity people describe there looks to us like Moyra Henson with the volume up. Television has not always known what to do with it. *My Family* ran long enough for the writing to change hands and settle into formula, and there is only so much an actor can do with the same exasperated look, however well she does it. In *Criminal Record* (2024) she is Maureen, and it says something about how tightly the series holds to Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo that we did not stop to mention her.

Wanamaker has said of her own career choices, "I wasn't brave enough." It is an odd thing to hear from someone who held a sitcom lead for eleven series and has spent the rest of the time playing women nobody would call nice. Start with the first *Prime Suspect*, where the part is a supporting one and she makes it feel like the second lead, and then decide for yourself what she meant.

## Biography

Zoë Wanamaker is an American-born British actress. She was born on 13 May 1949 in New York City and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She has worked extensively in theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, winning two Laurence Olivier Awards.

Wanamaker is known for her film roles as Madam Hooch in *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* (2001) and Ada Leverson in *Wilde* (1997), and for television performances including Susan Harper in *My Family* (2000–2011), Ariadne Oliver in *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (from 2005), Cassandra in *Doctor Who* (2005), Helen Jacobson in *Killing Eve* (2018) and Maureen in *Criminal Record* (2024). She was appointed CBE in 2001.

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

## On Fi1m (8)

- *Criminal Record* (2024), Fi1m 81, as Maureen — [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md)
- *Worzel Gummidge* (2019), Fi1m 84, as Lady Bloomsbury Barton — [page](https://film.one/tv/worzel-gummidge.md)
- *My Week with Marilyn* (2011), Fi1m 62, as Paula Strasberg — [page](https://film.one/film/my-week-with-marilyn.md)
- *Doctor Who* (2005), Fi1m 78, as Cassandra O'Brien.Δ17 — [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* (2001), Fi1m 68, as Madam Hooch — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone.md)
- *My Family* (2000), Fi1m 50, as Susan Harper — [page](https://film.one/tv/my-family.md)
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), Fi1m 88, as Moyra Henson — [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)
- *Edge of Darkness* (1985), Fi1m 88, as Clemmy — [page](https://film.one/tv/edge-of-darkness.md)

## Complete filmography (93)

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

- *Bergerac* (2025), series, as Charlie Hungerford
- *Criminal Record* (2024), series, as Maureen — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md)
- *Black Ops* (2023), series, as Celia Herrington
- *The Man Who Fell to Earth* (2022), series, as Watt
- *National Theatre Live: Constellations* (2021), as Marianne
- *The Cleaner* (2021), series, as Lucille
- *Professor T* (2021), series, as Zelda Radclyffe
- *Shadow and Bone* (2021), series, as Baghra
- *Worzel Gummidge* (2019), series, as Lady Bloomsbury Barton — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/worzel-gummidge.md)
- *1944: Should We Bomb Auschwitz?* (2019), as Narrator (voice)
- *Manson: The Lost Tapes* (2018), series, as Narrator
- *My Family and The Galapagos* (2018), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Killing Eve* (2018), series, as Helen Jacobson — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/killing-eve.md)
- *Britannia* (2018), series, as Queen Antedia
- *Girlfriends* (2018), series, as Gail
- *Babs* (2017), as Joan Littlewood
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Paula — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Captcha* (2014), Actor
- *Wodehouse In Exile* (2013), as Ethel Wodehouse
- *Mr Selfridge* (2013), series, as Princess Marie Wiasemsky de Bolotoff
- *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as The Woman
- *Return to the Falklands* (2012), as Narrator
- *Mary's Bottom Line* (2012), series, as Narrator
- *My Week with Marilyn* (2011), as Paula Strasberg — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/my-week-with-marilyn.md)
- *National Theatre Live: The Cherry Orchard* (2011), as Ranyevskaya
- *All My Sons* (2011), as Kate Keller
- *It's a Wonderful Afterlife* (2010), as Mrs. Goldman
- *Ochberg's Orphans* (2008), as Narrator
- *The Old Curiosity Shop* (2007), as Mrs. Jarley
- *Johnny and the Bomb* (2006), series, as Mrs. Tachyon
- *A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets* (2005), as Countess of Pembroke
- *The Real Amityville Horror* (2005), as Narrator
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Cassandra O'Brien.Δ17 — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Letitia Blacklock
- *Five Children and It* (2004), as Martha
- *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* (2001), as Madam Hooch — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone.md)
- *Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years* (2001), series, as Tania Braithwaite
- *My Family* (2000), series, as Susan Harper — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-family.md)
- *Gormenghast* (2000), series, as Clarice Groan
- *David Copperfield* (1999), series, as Miss Murdstone
- *The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns* (1999), series, as Mary Muldoon
- *Swept from the Sea* (1998), as Mary Foster
- *A Dance to the Music of Time* (1997), series, as Audrey Maclintick
- *Wilde* (1997), as Ada Leverson 'Sphinx'
- *Creatures Fantastic* (1997), series, as Narrator
- *The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd* (1995), as Mrs. Holroyd
- *Eilish: Life Without Katie* (1995), as Narrator
- *The Blackheath Poisonings* (1993), series, as Charlotte Collard
- *The Countess Alice* (1993), as Connie
- *The Blackheath Poisonings* (1992), as Charlotte Collard
- *Shakespeare: The Animated Tales* (1992), series, as Lady Macbeth (voice)
- *Memento Mori* (1992), as Olive Mannering
- *Love Hurts* (1992), series, as Tessa Piggott
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Mrs Holroyd
- *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, as Moyra Henson — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md)
- *Othello* (1990), as Emilia
- *Ball-Trap On The Cote Sauvage* (1989), as Sarah Marriot
- *Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story* (1989), series, as Jean Kennerly
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Ariadne Oliver — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *The Dog It Was That Died* (1989), as Bildebeck
- *The Raggedy Rawney* (1988), as Elle
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Emma Pickford — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Paradise Postponed* (1986), series, as Charlotte 'Charlie' Titmuss, née Fanner
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Connie
- *Paradise Postponed* (1986), as Charlotte Fanner
- *Edge of Darkness* (1985), series, as Clemmy, Clementine — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/edge-of-darkness.md)
- *Theatre Night* (1985), series, as Emilia
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Olive Mannering
- *Piaf* (1984), as Toine
- *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator
- *Enemies of the State* (1983), as Zdena Tomin
- *The Tragedy of Richard III* (1983), as Lady Anne
- *Inside the Third Reich* (1982), series, as Annemarie Kempf
- *Baal* (1982), as Sophie
- *Strike: The Birth of Solidarity* (1981), as Alina Pienkowska
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Margaret Smythe
- *The BBC Television Shakespeare* (1978), series, Actor
- *The Devil's Crown* (1978), series, as Berengaria of Navarre
- *Danton's Death* (1978), as Lucille
- *A Christmas Carol* (1977), as Belle
- *The English Programme* (1976), series, Actor
- *Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill* (1974), series, as Pearl Craigie
- *Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill* (1974), as Pearl Craigie
- *Village Hall* (1974), series, as Shirley Chatsfield
- *Between the Wars* (1973), series, as Ada Abbott
- *Hitler: The Last Ten Days* (1973), as Eva Braun's Handmaid (uncredited)
- *The Eagle Has Landed* (1973), as Alice
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Joan Carmichael
- *Late Night Theatre* (1972), series, as Alice
- *Spy Trap* (1972), series, as Muriel
- *Take Three Girls* (1969), series, as Jackie
- *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Lorna Green
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Dorinda, Lucile Desmoulins

## Gallery

- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-3be3223f67c9.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Ed Enayat, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Zoe_Wanamaker.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-71b9a9e61a97.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Image via TMDB
- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-d053d357e874.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Image via TMDB
- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-7782923c52f7.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Image via TMDB
- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-f28f0a208f79.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Image via TMDB
- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-cdd8b5bb4a2f.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Image via TMDB
- ![Zoë Wanamaker](https://film.one/media/person/22470/gallery-eda384297ddf.jpg) Zoë Wanamaker — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 4 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2006: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1999: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1986: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1981: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)

*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/zoe-wanamaker