Claire Skinner (born 1965) is an English actress, who is well known in the United Kingdom for her television career.

Biography

Born and brought up in Hemel Hempstead, Skinner, the youngest daughter of a shopkeeper and an Irish-born secretary, was immensely shy as a child. Skinner's childhood dream was to become an actress and she completely immersed herself in achieving her ambition. She acted all the time, neglecting all of her school work, and "barely scraped through my A-levels". She went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and then later on joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Career

Her first role was in Hanky Park, by Walter Greenwood at the Oldham Repertory Theatre, which she describes as a "really traditional start."

Skinner is best known for her starring role as Clare in the British TV comedy Life Begins and more recently as Sue in the BBC's Outnumbered. For many years, Skinner has preferred theatre to screen roles because she's been disappointed with her TV projects ("apart from Mike Leigh's stuff"), "not just when you see the final thing, but also because it hasn't taken off."

Skinner has worked with some of the stage and screen directors which include Mike Leigh, Trevor Nunn, Tim Burton and Sam Mendes, but she remembers one particular director, Alan Ayckbourn, when she first started out: "He was a great influence for me as he pushed me so hard, but every director you work with has a big influence in some way, they really push you.”

Personal life

She is married to director Charles Palmer, the son of actor Geoffrey Palmer.

Filmography

Films

• The Rachel Papers (1989)
• Life Is Sweet (1990)
• Naked (1993)
• I.D. (1994)
• Return of the Native (1994)
• Clockwork Mice (1995)
• You're Dead… (1999)
• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• Mauvaise Passe aka Escort (1999)
• Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
• And When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007)
• Poirot-Cat Among the Pigeons (2008)

Theatre

• The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge
• Taking Steps-Revival by Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Joseph Theatre, (1990)
• Invisible Friends by Alan Ayckbourn, Cottlesloe Theatre, National Theatre, (1991)
• Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, Young Vic Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, (1992)
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, (1993)
• Moonlight, by Harold Pinter, London's West End, (1993)
• Look Back in Anger, by John Osborne, Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1995)
• Charley’s Aunt, by Brandon Thomas, Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1995)
• The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, Donmar Warehouse and Comedy Theatre, (1995)
• Othello by William Shakespeare, Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, (1997)
• The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare, Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, (2001)
• Mrs. Affleck, National Theatre, (2009)

Radio

• Old Harry's Game-- Christmas Special by Andy Hamilton on BBC Radio 4, (2002)
• Trevor's World of Sport by Andy Hamilton on BBC Radio 4, (2005, 2006, 2007)
• Oblomov (2005)
• The Light of Knowledge by Mya Hnuang Nyo, BBC Radio 4, (2005)
• Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, BBC Radio 4, (2005)
• Bed and Breakfast by Helen Simpson, BBC Radio 4, (2005)
• Not a Games Person, narrating Julie Myerson's play, BBC Radio 4, (2006)
• Sculptor's Daughter-Christmas, Snow, Pets and Females, and The Bays by Tove Jansson, BBC Radio 4, (2006)
• Standing Sideways, by Matt Charman, BBC Radio 4, (2006)
• Elizabeth and her German Garden, by Elizabeth von Arnim, BBC Radio 4, (2006)

• School Runs, by Alexis Zegerman, BBC Radio 4, (2006)
• Jigsaw, by Sybille Bedford, BBC Radio 4, (2006, 2007)
• Poetry Please, reading various poems by Percy Bysshe, Mary Shelley, John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Thomas Hardy, Philip Larkin, BBC Radio 4, (2007)
• Mrs Warren's Profession, by George Bernard Shaw, BBC Radio 3, (2007)
• Bird Song BBC Radio 3, (2008)
• Don't Turn Around by Marian Garvey, BBC Radio 4, (2008)
• Five Easy Ways with Chilli by Scarlett Thomas, BBC Radio 4, (2008)

Television

• Inspector Morse (1989)
• Chef! (1993)
• The Peter Principle (1997-2000)
• A Dance to the Music of Time (1997)
• Brass Eye (1997)
• The Wingless Bird (1997)
• Second Sight (1999)
• Perfect Strangers (2001)
• Bedtime (2001)

• Eroica (2003)
• The Booze Cruise (2003)
• Trevor's World of Sport (2003)
• Life Begins (2004-2006)
• Murphy's Law (2004)
• Charles Hazlewood 's The Genius of Mozart (2004)
• The Family Man (2006)
• Kingdom (2007)
• The Trial of Tony Blair (2007)

• Burn Up (2007)
• Outnumbered (2007-2008)
• Sense and Sensibility (2008)
• The Commander (2008)
• Lark Rise to Candleford (2008)
• Trinity (2009)

Awards

• 1992 -Won- Geneva Stars de Demain Best Actress Life Is Sweet.

• 1995 -Won- Critics' Circle Theatre Award Best Actress The Glass Menagerie.
• 1995 -Won- Time Out Award for Best Performance Off West End The Glass Menagerie.
• 1996 -Nominated- Laurence Olivier Award Best Supporting Performance The Glass Menagerie.
• 2009-Nominated- BAFTA Best Comedy Performance Outnumbered.

References

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External links