Ruth Sheen

Ruth Sheen is an English actress. From the late 1980s, she has appeared in British television shows, films and plays. A participant in the films of Mike Leigh, she won the European Film Award for Best Actress for her performance as Shirley in Leigh's High Hopes (1988).

Ruth Sheen
Sheen in 2014
Born1950 (age 72–73)
Stepney, London, England
Alma materEast 15 Acting School
OccupationActress
Years active1987–present

Early life

Sheen was born in Stepney, London. She began her career training at the East 15 Acting School.[1]

Career

Television

Sheen had recurring roles as Nanny Simmons in Berkeley Square (1998) and as Nurse Ethel Carr in the series Bramwell (1995–1998). She also appeared as four different characters in six episodes of The Bill between 1989 and 2004.[2] Also in 2004 she appeared in Agatha Christie’s Marple “The Murder at the Vicarage” as Mrs Tarrant.

She played Maureen Tacy in the series Doc Martin (2002) and appeared as Mrs Jones in the 2007 drama mini-series Fanny Hill, based on the erotic novel by John Cleland.[3][2]

She appeared in Agatha Christie’s Poirot “Elephants Can Remember” (2013) as Madame Rosentelle and in Misfits (TV Series) as Maggie.

Sheen was the titular Elizabeth in "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge", a 2015 episode of Inside No. 9.[4] She has a supporting role as a pub landlord in the comedy series Brassic (2019–).[5] Also in 2015. she appeared in the TV series Unforgotten as Lizzie Wilton and in 2016 in Midsomer Murders “Saints and Sinners” as Valerie Horton. In 2017, she acted in the TV mini-series Prime Suspect 1973 as Renee Bentley.

In 2021, Sheen featured in the last episode of the miniseries It's a Sin.[6]

In 2022, Sheen appeared as secretary of private investigator C.B. Strike in season five of the series Strike.[7]

Film

Sheen frequently appears in the films of Mike Leigh. She played the female lead in High Hopes (1988), a laughing woman in Secrets & Lies (1996), Maureen in All or Nothing (2002), Lily in Vera Drake (2004), Gerri in Another Year (2010), and Sarah Danby in Mr. Turner (2014).[8][9][10]

High Hopes was her breakthrough role.[10] After Another Year she commented on Leigh's preference for improvisation: "It's a unique way of working... He's quite a hard taskmaster."[11]

She played the mother of the character Jamie in Philip Ridley's 2009 feature film Heartless, and appeared in Welcome to the Punch (2013).[12][13] She played Elsie in the 2016 film adaptation of A Street Cat Named Bob.[2]

Theatre

Sheen performed in Mike Leigh's play It's a Great Big Shame at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1993.[14] She has appeared in Stoning Mary at the Royal Court Theatre, Market Boy at the Royal National Theatre and An Oak Tree at the Soho Theatre, all in London.[14] In 2007, she played Lyn, opposite Ben Whishaw's Steven, in the world premiere of Philip Ridley's stage play Leaves of Glass at the Soho Theatre.[15]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Little Dorrit Society Lady
1988 High Hopes Shirley
1989 The Angry Earth Nurse Berry
1993 When Pigs Fly Marge
1995 The Young Poisoner's Handbook Molly
1996 Different for Girls Nosey Neighbour
1996 Secrets & Lies Laughing Woman
1999 Virtual Sexuality Jackie Lovett
1999 Bait Café Woman Short
2002 All or Nothing Maureen
2003 Cheeky Tamara
2004 Vanity Fair Miss Pinkerton
2004 Vera Drake Lily
2005 Imagine Me & You Mrs Webster
2007 Hush Your Mouth Mrs Collins
2007 Run Fatboy Run Claudine
2007 The Curry Club Audrey Short
2009 Heartless Marion Morgan
2010 Another Year Gerri
2010 The Hardest Part Bus Lady Short
2010 Mulligatawny Maggie Short
2013 Welcome to the Punch Iris Warns
2014 Mr. Turner Sarah Danby
2015 The Woman in the Crypt Mother
2015 A Royal Night Out Joan Hodges
2015 SuperBob Pat
2016 A Street Cat Named Bob Elsie
2018 VS. Fiona
2021 Cyrano Mother Marthe
2023 The After Tabatha Short
TBA Booty Mrs. Dougans Short (post-production)
TBA Sweetly It Turns Joy (Completed)
TBA Touch Mrs. Ellis (In production)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1988 King and Castle Receptionist Series 2, episode 2
1989 The Bill Mrs. Taylor Series 5, episode 15
1989 London's Burning Danny's Mum Series 2, episode 7
1990 Making Out Delia Series 2, episode 4
1990 ScreenPlay Helen Baldwin Series 5, episode 3
1991 ScreenPlay Karen Series 6, episode 7
1992 A Fatal Inversion Forensic Scientist Miniseries (1 episode)
1992 Downtown Lagos Chocolate Cake Woman Miniseries (3 episodes)
1992 Casualty Barbara George Series 7, episode 5
1992 Ghostwatch Emma Stableford TV movie
1992 The Bill Mrs. Grant Series 8, episode 98
1994 Screen Two Viv Hastings Series 10, episode 12
1995 Peak Practice Pauline Wadham Series 3, episode 5
1995–98 Bramwell Nurse Ethel Carr Series 1–4 (27 episodes)
1995 Cracker Jean McIlvanney Series 3, episode 1
1997 Holding On Alice Miniseries (5 episodes)
1997 The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling Mrs. Harris Miniseries (1 episode)
1998 Berkeley Square Nanny Simmons Series 1 (6 episodes)
2000 Don Quixote 1st Wench/Young Lady TV movie
2000 Never Never Sandra Miniseries (2 episodes)
2000 Lorna Doone Betty Muxworthy TV movie
2001 The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells Mrs MacMananan Miniseries (1 episode)
2002 Plain Jane May TV movie
2002 White Teeth Maureen Miniseries (1 episode)
2003 The Bill Patricia Clarke Series 19, episodes 12 & 13
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Mrs. Tarrant Series 1, episode 2
2004 The Bill Mrs. Brunton Series 20, episodes 93 & 94
2005 Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky Aunt Winnie Miniseries (1 episode)
2005 Footprints in the Snow Lady Victualler TV movie
2005 Doc Martin Maureen Series 2, episode 6
2005 The English Harem Emily TV movie
2006 Vital Signs Val Series 1 (4 episodes)
2007 A Class Apart Ruth TV movie
2007 Fanny Hill Mrs. Jones Miniseries (2 episodes)
2007 Coming Up Jane Series 5, episode 1
2009 Brave Young Men Stephanie Malloy TV movie
2010 Silent Witness Esther Carey Series 13, episodes 1 & 2
2012 Accused Mo's Mum Series 2, episode 2
2013–14 The Mimic Martin's Mum Series 1–2 (4 episodes)
2013 Agatha Christie's Poirot Madame Rosentelle Series 13, episode 1
2013 Misfits Maggie Series 5 (5 episodes)
2014 Our Girl Nan Series 1, episodes 3 & 5
2014 Call the Midwife Sister Maltby Series 4, Christmas Special
2015 Inside No. 9 Elizabeth Gadge Series 2, episode 3
2015 Unforgotten Lizzie Wilton Series 1 (6 episodes)
2016 Midsomer Murders Valerie Horton Series 18, episode 5
2017 Prime Suspect 1973 Renee Bentley Miniseries (6 episodes)
2018 The Woman in White Mrs. Clements Miniseries (3 episodes)
2019 Moving On Maggie Series 10, episode 5
2019 Brassic Kath Series 1 (6 episodes)
2021 It's a Sin Sandra Miniseries (1 episode)
2021–23 The Nevers Mrs. Beechum Series 1 (6 episode)
2022 Strike Pat Chauncey Series 5 (4 episodes)
2023 Hijack Elaine Atterton Series 1, episode 5

Awards

In 1989, Sheen won the European Film Award for Best Actress for the role of Shirley in High Hopes.[16] She was nominated for British actress of the year by the London Film Critics' Circle for Another Year.[17]

References
  1. "Notable alumni of East 15 Acting School". East 15. University of Essex. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. "Ruth Sheen movies, photos, movie reviews, filmography, and biography". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. "Fanny Hill – Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012.
  4. "Inside No. 9, The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge, TV review: Quintessentially barmy British comedy". The Independent. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  5. Polianskaya, Alina (29 August 2019). "Brassic cast: Who stars in the new Sky One comedy". Inews. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. ""It's hitting young viewers hard" – Russell T Davies discusses the shattering conclusion to It's A Sin". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  7. "Meet the cast of Strike: Troubled Blood, season 5 of the BBC drama".
  8. "Review: Mike Leigh Paints His Masterpiece in Mr. Turner". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  9. Another Year – Ruth Sheen interview. Archived 2014-11-01 at the Wayback Machine Orange Film News 4 November 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  10. "In many ways it could be argued that Essex actress Ruth Sheen owes her career to Mike Leigh". Essex Chronicle. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  11. Walker, Tim (20 October 2010). "Ruth Sheen was relieved to complete filming on 'taskmaster' Mike Leigh's latest film". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. Lodge, Guy (15 March 2013). "Film Review: Welcome to the Punch". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  13. Philip French (22 May 2010). "Heartless". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  14. "Another Year Press Kit" (PDF). Sony Classics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  15. Lyn Gardner (12 May 2007). "Theatre review: Leaves of Glass / Soho, London". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  16. "High Hopes". European Film Awards. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  17. Mitchell, Wendy (21 December 2010). "King's Speech, Another Year lead London Critics' Circle nominations". Screen. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
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