Lesley Sharp
Lesley Sharp (born 3 April 1960) is an English actress renowned for her versatile and acclaimed performances across film, television, and theatre, often portraying complex, working-class characters with emotional depth.[1] Born Karen Makinson in Manchester, she was adopted at six weeks old by Jack and Roberta Sharp and renamed Lesley; she grew up in Formby, Merseyside, alongside an older adoptive sister.[2][3] Sharp trained as an actress at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.[4] Her screen career began with a supporting role as Louise in Mike Leigh's Naked (1993), a critically praised independent film that marked her entry into notable cinema.[5] She achieved wider recognition with her portrayal of Jean, the wife of one of the unemployed steelworkers, in the comedy-drama The Full Monty (1997), earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[6] Other significant film roles include the part of Lydia in From Hell (2001), showcasing her range in both period and contemporary settings.[5] On television, Sharp has been a prominent figure in British drama, with standout performances as Kay Jenkinson in Paul Abbott's Clocking Off (2000–2001), for which she received praise for her depiction of factory life, and as Roma Sexton in the romantic comedy Bob & Rose (2001), earning a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress.[7] She later starred as Detective Chief Inspector Janet Scott in the long-running crime series Scott & Bailey (2011–2016), co-created by Sally Wainwright, and as detective Hannah Laing in the thriller Before We Die (2021–2023).[1] More recently, she appeared as Madeline Delaney in the 2024 thriller series Red Eye. Her theatre work includes Olivier Award-nominated performances as Sonya in Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse (2002) and as Harper in Harper Regan at the Royal Court Theatre (2008).[8][9] Throughout her four-decade career, she has been nominated for multiple BAFTA and Olivier Awards, establishing herself as one of the UK's most respected character actresses.[1][5]Early life and education
Childhood and adoption
Lesley Sharp was born Karen Makinson on 3 April 1960 in Manchester, England.[10] She was placed for adoption shortly after birth due to her biological mother's circumstances and was adopted at six weeks old by Jack Sharp, a chief tax collector (civil servant), and his wife Roberta.[11][12] Upon adoption, she was renamed Lesley Sharp and became the younger of two daughters in the family.[3] The Sharps raised Lesley in Formby, a suburb in Merseyside, where she spent her formative years in a stable but emotionally complex household.[2] Her adoptive mother, Roberta, struggled with depression throughout much of Lesley's childhood, which created an unpredictable environment and strained their relationship at times.[11] Despite these challenges, Lesley developed a deep emotional connection with her adoptive parents, particularly idolizing her father Jack for his calm and supportive nature; Roberta tragically died when Lesley was 15, leaving her to navigate her teenage years primarily under her father's care.[13] Reflecting on her adoption, Sharp has described a persistent sense of not fully belonging, stating, "I think if you are adopted, you can’t help but feel... that you don’t belong... a question mark inside you."[11] During her childhood, Sharp found solace and inspiration in television, particularly the performances of comedian Dick Emery, whose transformative characters and humor sparked her early interest in acting.[14] Emery's ability to shift personas on screen captivated her, planting the seeds for her future career and providing an escape from feelings of invisibility in her daily life.[3] Her adoptive father further encouraged these aspirations, supporting her pursuit of performance as a viable path.[12]Education
Lesley Sharp attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she pursued formal training in acting after initially failing her auditions there and at other institutions like RADA and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[15] She succeeded on her second attempt following a year of personal development and temporary work, enrolling with a strong determination to immerse herself fully in the craft.[15] During her time at Guildhall, Sharp graduated in 1982 with a BA in Acting, having excelled in dramatic performance while finding challenges in complementary disciplines such as singing and dancing.[16][17] The school's curriculum emphasized classical training, exposing Sharp to foundational works by playwrights including Anton Chekhov, William Shakespeare, and Henrik Ibsen, which honed her approach to character depth and emotional authenticity.[15] This rigorous focus on interpretive skills and ensemble work fostered a sense of community that resonated with her personal background, shaping her resilient performance style rooted in vulnerability and precision.[15] Her childhood inspiration from comedian Dick Emery's transformative roles further fueled her early aspirations to pursue acting as a means of exploration and belonging.[18] Following graduation, Sharp faced initial challenges in breaking into the industry, including financial instability from low-paying theatre engagements in her early twenties, which highlighted the precarious nature of professional acting.[9] Despite these hurdles, her dedication to quality writing over conventional typecasting sustained her ambitions, as she navigated the competitive landscape with persistence and a commitment to substantive roles.[9][19]Acting career
Stage career
Following her graduation from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1982, Lesley Sharp launched her professional stage career with roles in prominent British theatre productions during the 1980s. She appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company in works such as Lear and Cyrano de Bergerac in 1984, and soon joined the Royal Court Theatre under artistic director Max Stafford-Clark, performing in Caryl Churchill's Top Girls (1982), George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer (1987), and Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good (1988). She also played Sonya in Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at the National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre in 1992, earning an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress. These early performances, often in ensemble casts exploring social and historical themes, showcased her ability to embody multifaceted characters, and she also collaborated with director Mike Leigh on stage projects during this period.[20][15] Sharp took a decade-long hiatus from theatre in the mid-1990s, shifting her focus to television and film work, with her final stage role before the break being Kattrin, the mute daughter, in Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children at the National Theatre in 1995, directed by Jonathan Kent in a David Hare adaptation.[21][20] This period allowed her to build a screen reputation, but she returned to the stage in 2005, starring as Emma in Sam Shepard's The God of Hell at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by Kathy Burke; the black comedy highlighted her earthy comedic timing and physical energy in rehearsals.[20] Her subsequent stage roles emphasized complex portrayals of working-class women in contemporary and classic plays. In 2008, Sharp played the titular Harper Regan in Simon Stephens's drama at the National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre, directed by Ramin Gray, depicting a 41-year-old mother grappling with family crises and identity; her performance earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress, with critics praising her sensitive, glowing portrayal for capturing the character's quiet desperation and resilience.[22][23][24] She returned to the National Theatre in 2014 as Helen in Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey, directed by Bijan Sheibani, delivering a commanding, peroxided portrayal of a flawed, feisty working-class mother that commanded the stage with emotional bite and tenacious humor.[25][26] In 2021, Sharp starred as Philoctetes in Kae Tempest's Paradise, an all-female reworking of Sophocles' tragedy at the National Theatre's Olivier Theatre, directed by Ian Rickson; her magnetic, rage-fueled performance as the wounded, mistrustful outcast was hailed as astounding and compulsive, emphasizing themes of betrayal and survival.[27][28] Throughout these returns, Sharp has been acclaimed for her nuanced interpretations of resilient, often marginalized women, bringing raw authenticity to roles that reflect working-class struggles in modern British drama.[29][30]Television career
Sharp began her television career in the late 1980s with minor roles in TV films, including her debut as Mariane in the 1983 adaptation of Tartuffe, or The Impostor.[31] She followed this with the part of Bernadette in the 1987 TV movie The Love Child.[32] By the early 1990s, her appearances expanded to episodic dramas, building her profile in British television. In the late 1990s, Sharp featured in the ensemble series Playing the Field (1998–2002) as Theresa Mullen, a player on a struggling women's soccer team, showcasing her ability to portray everyday resilience.[33] Her breakthrough arrived with Clocking Off (2000–2003), a BAFTA-nominated anthology drama about factory workers, where she played Trudy Graham across multiple episodes; the series earned her the 2002 Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress.[34] Sharp's lead role as Rose Cooper in the 2001 miniseries Bob & Rose marked a pivotal moment, with the show—created by Russell T. Davies—exploring a taboo romance between a gay man and a straight woman, earning praise for its bold handling of sexuality and identity.[35] She continued with memorable guest spots, such as the enigmatic Sky Silvestry in the 2008 Doctor Who episode "Midnight," a role that highlighted her skill in psychological tension.[36] From 2011 to 2016, Sharp anchored the police procedural Scott & Bailey as Detective Constable Janet Scott, a thoughtful investigator balancing career demands with family life, contributing to the series' success across five seasons. This role exemplified her transition to lead positions in procedurals, often embodying resilient women from Northern backgrounds who confront adversity with quiet strength.[37] In recent projects, Sharp reprised Jean Horsfall—originally from the 1997 film—in the 2023 Disney+ limited series The Full Monty, updating the story for modern economic struggles and amplifying her visibility on global streaming platforms.[38] She took a central antagonistic role as MI5 chief Madeline Delaney in the 2024 thriller Red Eye, a high-stakes drama involving international intrigue.[39] Looking ahead, in 2025, she appears as Monica in the second series of the rebooted Bergerac, further solidifying her presence in contemporary British television.[40]Film career
Lesley Sharp began her film career with a supporting role as Michelle, the wife of the married protagonist Bob, in Alan Clarke's 1987 comedy-drama Rita, Sue and Bob Too, a gritty portrayal of working-class life in Bradford that marked her screen debut.[41] She followed this with smaller parts in films such as The Rachel Papers (1989), where she played Mrs. Hamilton, establishing her presence in British independent cinema during the late 1980s. Her early work often highlighted themes of social realism and northern English life, reflecting Clarke's influence in capturing raw, unfiltered human experiences. In the 1990s, Sharp delivered a standout performance as Louise, a resilient yet vulnerable woman enduring emotional turmoil, in Mike Leigh's provocative drama Naked (1993), earning praise for her intense dramatic range in a film that explored urban alienation and class dynamics. This role solidified her reputation for portraying multifaceted working-class characters. She achieved wider recognition with her turn as Jean, the supportive wife in the ensemble comedy-drama The Full Monty (1997), directed by Peter Cattaneo, which became a box-office success and highlighted her comedic timing alongside dramatic depth in stories of economic hardship and male vulnerability. Into the 2000s, Sharp collaborated again with Leigh in Vera Drake (2004), playing Jessie Barnes, the sister of the titular abortionist, in a film that delved into post-war British social issues and received critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival. Other notable supporting roles included Kate Eddowes, a canonical victim, in the historical thriller From Hell (2001), directed by the Hughes brothers, adapting the Jack the Ripper legend with a focus on Victorian underclass struggles. Sharp's television successes, such as in Scott & Bailey, have bolstered her film opportunities by showcasing her versatility to international audiences. In the 2010s, she continued with indie projects like Hunky Dory (2012), where she portrayed Cerys, a supportive teacher encouraging artistic expression amid 1960s youth culture. Entering the 2020s, her roles grew more prominent in independent cinema, including Sarah, a care home worker navigating the COVID-19 crisis, in the poignant drama Help (2021), which addressed systemic failures in elderly care and premiered to strong reviews at the BFI London Film Festival. She then played Morwenna, the pragmatic aunt in Lena Dunham's medieval coming-of-age tale Catherine Called Birdy (2022), blending humor and resilience in a story of female autonomy. Her most recent film, Pillion (2025), directed by Harry Lighton, features Sharp as Peggy, the domineering mother of the protagonist Colin, in a queer road movie exploring identity, kink, and family ties; it premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay award and received acclaim for its bold storytelling and Sharp's commanding performance.[42] Throughout her filmography, Sharp has frequently embodied resilient working-class women, with recurring collaborations like those with Leigh and Clarke underscoring her affinity for socially conscious narratives that challenge conventions.[43] In the 2020s, she has shifted toward more central indie roles, leveraging her established gravitas to anchor intimate, character-driven stories that resonate with contemporary issues.Personal life
Biological and adoptive family
Lesley Sharp was adopted at six weeks old by Jack Sharp, an inspector of taxes, and his wife Roberta, who renamed her from her birth name, Karen Makinson, and raised her in Formby, Merseyside. She grew up in Formby alongside an older adoptive sister.[11][37][3] She has described a close bond with her adoptive father, whom she adored for his calm and supportive nature, particularly after her adoptive mother's death when Sharp was 15 years old; however, she also experienced a persistent sense of displacement within the family, feeling like an outsider in the Merseyside environment despite their loving care.[44][45] In adulthood, Sharp traced her biological mother, Elsie Makinson, an unmarried woman from Manchester, more than two decades before 2013, learning that her birth on 3 April 1960 resulted from Makinson's affair with Norman Patient, a married tram driver born in 1909 who had died prior to the contact.[46][13] The 2013 episode of the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? delved deeper into her paternal lineage, revealing Patient's marriage to Ada Clode in 1936 and their children, Sharp's half-siblings: a deceased infant brother named Norman, as well as Anne, Doris, and Thomas (known as Tommy).[46][47] During the episode, Sharp met Doris and Tommy, who expressed shock at her existence but welcomed her warmly, providing a sense of connection to her Manchester roots that she had long sought.[11][37] The discoveries had a profound emotional impact on Sharp, intensifying her reflections on identity and belonging; she visited key sites tied to Patient's family history in Manchester, including locations linked to his ancestors like a World War I soldier and a foster carer, which evoked feelings of "incredible warmth" toward her paternal heritage despite the circumstances of her conception.[47][13] Sharp has since described the adoption as instilling a lifelong sense of not fully fitting in, which influenced her personal growth, though she maintains positive ties to her biological half-sister Anne and values the expanded family narrative uncovered.[44][37] In a 2025 media clip revisiting her Who Do You Think You Are? journey, Sharp reflected on the enduring emotional layers of these revelations, noting how connecting with her biological family sites and relatives has helped her process ongoing questions of heritage without resolving every aspect of her identity.[48]Marriage and children
Lesley Sharp married actor and playwright Nicholas Gleaves in February 1994, after meeting in the early 1990s while both were establishing their careers in the acting world.[49][50] The couple has two sons: Zachary, born in September 1994, and Gabriel, born in March 1998.[51][52] Sharp and Gleaves reside in London, where they balance their demanding schedules in the entertainment industry with family responsibilities; Gleaves has appeared in series such as The Crown and Spooks, while also writing plays.[53][54] The family maintains a low public profile, with Sharp rarely discussing her husband or children in interviews, emphasizing their preference for privacy amid her high-profile roles in television and theatre.[55][56]Awards and recognition
Wins
Lesley Sharp has received several prestigious awards recognizing her compelling performances across film and television, particularly highlighting her versatility in portraying complex, emotionally layered characters. These accolades have underscored her status as a leading figure in British acting, often emphasizing her ability to bring depth to roles in ensemble and lead capacities. In 1998, Sharp was part of the ensemble cast of The Full Monty that won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, honoring the film's collective impact as a cultural phenomenon that revitalized British cinema with its blend of humor and social commentary.[57] Her television work earned significant recognition in the early 2000s. In 2002, she received the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress for her dual roles in Bob & Rose and Clocking Off, where she delivered nuanced portrayals of personal and professional struggles in contemporary British settings, cementing her reputation for authentic dramatic work.[58] Sharp's portrayal of the psychic medium Alison Mundy in the ITV series Afterlife (2005–2006) brought her international acclaim. For this role, she won the 2006 Royal Television Society Programme Award for Best Actor – Female, with judges praising her as "one of the most versatile in the business, who adds layers and depth" to her characters.[59] The same performance also secured the Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series at the Monte-Carlo Televison Festival, further elevating her profile in European television circles.[60] These wins, particularly the RTS and Golden Nymph awards, marked a pivotal moment in Sharp's career, solidifying her as a powerhouse in British television drama and opening doors to more prominent lead roles in subsequent projects.[61]| Year | Award | Category | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | The Full Monty |
| 2002 | Broadcasting Press Guild Award | Best Actress | Bob & Rose and Clocking Off |
| 2006 | Royal Television Society Programme Award | Best Actor – Female | Afterlife |
| 2006 | Golden Nymph Award (Monte-Carlo TV Festival) | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Afterlife |
Nominations
Lesley Sharp has received several notable nominations from prestigious awards bodies, recognizing her versatile performances across film, television, and theatre. Her nominations often highlight her ability to portray complex, emotionally resonant characters in stories addressing social issues. In film, Sharp was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1998 for her portrayal of Jean in The Full Monty, a comedy-drama exploring unemployment and masculinity in post-industrial Britain.[6] On television, she earned a BAFTA Television Award nomination for Best Actress in 2002 for her lead role as Rose Cooper in the ITV series Bob & Rose, which tackled themes of sexuality and family dynamics.[7] That same year, she received a Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Award nomination for Best Actor – Female for the same performance.[62] Sharp's stage work has also garnered acclaim, with early nominations from the Olivier Awards underscoring her theatre contributions. In 1988, she was nominated for Best Comedy Performance for A Family Affair at the Donmar Warehouse.[63] In 1992, she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as Sonya in Uncle Vanya at the National Theatre.[64] In 2008, she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for her role as Harper in Harper Regan at the Royal Court Theatre.[23] These nominations reflect a pattern of recognition for Sharp's roles in narratives centered on personal and societal challenges, spanning intimate dramatic portrayals to ensemble dynamics.Filmography
Film
- 1987: Rita, Sue and Bob Too as Michelle, directed by Alan Clarke
- 1989: The Rachel Papers as Jenny, directed by Damian Harris
- 1991: Close My Eyes as Jessica, directed by Stephen Poliakoff
- 1993: Naked as Louise, directed by Mike Leigh[65]
- 1994: Priest as Mrs. Unsworth, directed by Antonia Bird
- 1996: Different for Girls as PC Elaine, directed by Richard Spence
- 1997: The Full Monty as Jean, directed by Peter Cattaneo[66]
- 2001: From Hell as Kate Eddowes, directed by Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes[67]
- 2002: Cheeky as Kath, directed by David Thewlis
- 2004: Vera Drake as Jessie Barnes, directed by Mike Leigh
- 2008: Inkheart as Mortola, directed by Iain Softley
- 2012: Great Expectations as Mrs. Joe, directed by Mike Newell
- 2015: Suffragette as Mrs. Ellyn, directed by Sarah Gavron
- 2016: Dusty & Me as Lil, directed by Betsan Morris-Evans
- 2018: Peterloo as Mary, directed by Mike Leigh
- 2022: Catherine Called Birdy as Morwenna, directed by Lena Dunham
- 2025: Pillion as Peggy, directed by Harry Lighton[68]
Television
Lesley Sharp's television career spans over four decades, encompassing guest appearances, miniseries, TV films, and lead roles in ongoing series. Below is a chronological list of her television credits, including series titles, years, character names, and episode counts where applicable.[5]| Year | Title | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Tartuffe, or the Impostor | Mariane | TV film (1 episode)[31] |
| 1987 | Road | Valerie | TV film (1 episode) |
| 1987 | The Love Child | Bernadette | TV film (1 episode)[32] |
| 1989 | ScreenPlay ("Wedded") | Woman | 1 episode |
| 1990 | ScreenPlay ("Night Voice") | Marion Parkin | 1 episode[69] |
| 1991 | The Bill | Josie | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Minder | Joanna | 1 episode ("The Long Ride") |
| 1993 | Between the Lines | Mo Connell | 1 episode |
| 1994 | The Tech Game | Heather | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | The Chief | Deirdre O'Conner | 3 episodes |
| 1996 | The Moonstone | Rosanna Spearman | Miniseries (4 episodes) |
| 1997 | The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling | Bridget Allworthy | Miniseries (6 episodes) |
| 1998 | The Echo | Kate | Miniseries (4 episodes) |
| 1999 | Great Expectations | Mrs. Joe Gargery | TV film (1 episode) |
| 2000–2001 | Clocking Off | Trudy Graham | 11 episodes |
| 2001 | Bob & Rose | Rose Atherton | 6 episodes |
| 2003 | Canterbury Tales | May | 1 episode ("The Man of Law's Tale") |
| 2004 | The Virgin Queen | Anna | 1 episode |
| 2005–2006 | Afterlife | Alison Mundy | 8 episodes[70] |
| 2007 | The Passion | Felicity | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Sky Silvestry | 1 episode ("Midnight") |
| 2009 | Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980 | Joan Hunter | TV film (1 episode) |
| 2009 | Wallander | Helen | 3 episodes |
| 2011–2016 | Scott & Bailey | DC Janet Scott | 32 episodes[71] |
| 2013 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | 1 episode[72] |
| 2014 | The Shadow Line | Petra | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Capital | Monica | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Jericho | Annie | 1 episode |
| 2017–2018 | Harlots | Margaret Wells | 16 episodes |
| 2018 | Care | Jean | TV film (1 episode) |
| 2019 | The Long Call | Grace | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | The Tower | DS Sarah Collins | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Help | Sarah | TV film (1 episode) |
| 2021–2023 | Before We Die | DI Hannah Laing | 10 episodes[73] |
| 2021 | Vigil | DS Kirsten Longacre | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | The Full Monty | Jean Horsfall | 8 episodes |
| 2024 | Red Eye | DC Madeline Delaney | 6 episodes |
| 2025 | Bergerac | Monica | 6 episodes (series 2) |