Claire Skinner

Claire Skinner is an English actress known for her work on stage, television, and film. Born on August 27, 1965, in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, Skinner began her acting career in the 1980s.

Skinner's first major role was in the play "Measure for Measure" at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1984. She went on to appear in several other RSC productions, including "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" and "The Winter's Tale."
In 1990, Skinner made her West End debut in the play "The Glass Menagerie." She continued to work in the West End throughout the 1990s, appearing in productions of "The Importance of Being Earnest," "The Herbal Bed," and "Mrs. Warren's Profession."
Skinner's breakthrough role came in 1998 when she was cast as Sue Brockman in the BBC sitcom "Outnumbered." The show ran for five seasons and was a critical and commercial success. Skinner's performance as the frazzled mother of three was widely praised, and she won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2009.
Despite her success on television, Skinner continued to work in the theater. In 2001, she starred in the West End production of "The Unexpected Man" alongside Michael Gambon. The play was a critical success and Skinner's performance earned her an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress.
Skinner's other notable stage credits include "The Glass Menagerie" at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007, "The Father" at the Tricycle Theatre in 2014, and "The Rehearsal" at the Almeida Theatre in 2016.
In addition to her work in theater and television, Skinner has appeared in several films, including "Bridget Jones's Diary" (2001) and "Sleepy Hollow" (1999).
Skinner returned to the West End in 2019 to star in the play "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg" at Trafalgar Studios. The play, which tells the story of a couple raising a severely disabled child, was well-received by critics and audiences alike.