
Frances Barber (née Brookes, born 13 May 1958) is an English actress. She received Olivier Award nominations for her work in the plays Camille (1985), and Uncle Vanya (1997). Her film appearances include three collaborations with Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears (1987), We Think the World of You (1988) and Dead Fish (2005); as well as Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987); Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992); and latterly Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017). Barber's numerous television credits include The Street (2009), Doctor Who (2011), Silk (2012–2014), and Whitstable Pearl (2021–2022).

The People Before
2025

Hamlet
First Player / Player Queen / Second Clown
2024

Dreamland
Cheryl · (6 episodes)
2023

A Bird Flew In
Marie
2022

The Chelsea Detective
Olivia Arnold · (5 episodes)
2022

A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Mezzotint
Mrs Ambrigail
2021

Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of Squirrel
Herself
2021

Whitstable Pearl
Dolly Nolan · (18 episodes)
2021

Trick or Treat
Miss Ferguson
2019

Queens of Mystery
Viv Collins · (1 episode)
2019

Let's Talk About Sex
Narrator · (3 episodes)
2019

The Queen and I
Princess Margaret
2018

Blue Iguana
Princess
2018

An Ideal Husband
Mrs. Cheveley
2018

McKellen: Playing the Part
2018

The Escape
Alison
2018

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
Joy
2017

The Bookshop
Jessie Welford
2017

The Chosen
Natalia Sedova
2016

The Rebel
Angela · (2 episodes)
2016

Mr. Holmes
Matinee "Madame Schirmer"
2015

Mapp and Lucia
Amelia, Contessa di Faraglione · (3 episodes)
2014
Bucky
Miss Eversham
2014

Inside No. 9
Lesley · (1 episode)
2014

The IT Crowd Manual
Self
2014

Muse of Fire
Self
2013

Psychobitches
Various Roles · (11 episodes)
2013

The Spa
Virginia (Ginny) Trench · (8 episodes)
2013

Father Brown
Davina Malmort · (1 episode)
2013

May I Kill U?
Bernice
2013

We'll Take Manhattan
Diana Vreeland
2012

Great Expectations
Mrs. Brandley · (2 episodes)
2011

Death in Paradise
Diana Watson · (1 episode)
2011

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant · (1 episode)
2011

Friday Night Dinner
Sheila Bloom · (1 episode)
2011

Silk
Caroline Warwick · (12 episodes)
2011

The Nativity
Elizabeth · (4 episodes)
2010

Vexed
Pat Poynter · (1 episode)
2010

Pete versus Life
(1 episode)
2010

The Fattest Man in Britain
Janice
2009

Law & Order: UK
(1 episode)
2009
Bremner, Bird and Fortune: Silly Money
Dinner Guest · (1 episode)
2008

Beautiful People
Miss Prentice · (1 episode)
2008

King Lear
Goneril
2008

Goal II: Living the Dream
Carol Harmison
2007

Benidorm
Daisy · (1 episode)
2007

The Street
(1 episode)
2006

The IT Crowd
Doctor Mendall · (1 episode)
2006

Hotel Babylon
(1 episode)
2006

Funland
(11 episodes)
2005

Dead Fish
S & M Prostitute
2005

Goal!
Carol Harmison
2005

Doctor Who
Madame Kovarian · (3 episodes)
2005

Doctor Who
Eye Patch Lady · (3 episodes)
2005

His Passionate Bride
Narrator (voice)
2005

Agatha Christie's Marple
Lizzie Hinchcliffe · (1 episode)
2004

Evilenko
Fenja Evilenka
2004

The Legend of the Tamworth Two
Miss Piggy (voice)
2004

Hustle
Clarissa · (1 episode)
2004

New Tricks
(1 episode)
2004
Listening
Woman
2003

Monkey Dust
(18 episodes)
2003

Flyfishing
Frances
2003
Celeb
(6 episodes)
2002

The Red Siren
Eva
2002
Having It Off
(6 episodes)
2002

Superstition
Isabella Flores
2001

The Gentleman Thief
Julia Sinclair
2001

Love in a Cold Climate
The Bolter · (2 episodes)
2001

Esther Kahn
Rivka Kahn
2000

Shiner
Georgie
2000

The Escort
Jessica
1999

Bremner, Bird and Fortune
(89 episodes)
1999

Plastic Man
Louise Ferman · (2 episodes)
1999
Plastic Man
Louise Ferman
1999

Toy Boys
Mrs. Chambers
1999

Gimme Gimme Gimme
Janine · (1 episode)
1999

Still Crazy
Lady in Black
1998
Just in Time
1998

Tea
Woman
1998

Trial & Retribution
(2 episodes)
1997

A Royal Scandal
Lady Jersey
1997

Photographing Fairies
Beatrice Templeton
1997
Ruby
Self · (2 episodes)
1997

The Ice House
Diana Goode · (2 episodes)
1997

Midsomer Murders
Ingrid Lockston · (1 episode)
1997

Midsomer Murders
Constance Fielding · (1 episode)
1997

Rhodes
Princess Catherine Radziwill · (8 episodes)
1996

Dalziel & Pascoe
(1 episode)
1996

Aristophanes: The Gods Are Laughing
Adonia
1995

Rik Mayall Presents: Dirty Old Town
Sally Denton
1995

3 Steps to Heaven
Andrea Wallis
1995

Scarborough Ahoy!
Maria
1994

Giorgino
Marie
1994

Space Precinct
Erika Brandt · (1 episode)
1994

Deep in My Heart - Germaine and Benjamin
Anna Lindsay
1994

In The Cold Light Of Day
Mother
1994

Return to Blood River
Karen
1994
Fish Tale
Helen Wormsley
1994

Rik Mayall Presents
Sally Denton · (1 episode)
1993
A Statement of Affairs
Pip
1993

Chef
Anita Lawrence · (1 episode)
1993

Soft Top Hard Shoulder
Miss Trumble
1993

The Leaving of Liverpool
Ellen, Lil's Mother
1992

The Leaving of Liverpool
(2 episodes)
1992

The Storyteller: Greek Myths
Medusa · (1 episode)
1991

Murder Most Horrid
Gloria Twigge · (1 episode)
1991

Hancock
Freddie Hancock
1991

Young Soul Rebels
Ann
1991

Secret Friends
Angela
1991
Do Not Disturb
1991

The Orchid House
Joan · (4 episodes)
1991

The Grasscutter
1990

Separate Bedrooms
Gert
1989

The Nightmare Years
Helga Bauer · (4 episodes)
1989

Behaving Badly
(4 episodes)
1989

Agatha Christie's Poirot
Lady Millicent · (1 episode)
1989

Agatha Christie's Poirot
Merlina Rival · (1 episode)
1989

Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Viola / Cesario
1988

We Think the World of You
Megan
1988

Red Dwarf
Genny · (1 episode)
1988

The Modern World: Ten Great Writers
Winnie Verloc · (1 episode)
1988
Duck
1988

Sammy and Rosie Get Laid
Rosie
1987

Prick Up Your Ears
Leonie Orton
1987

Inspector Morse
Nicole Burgess · (1 episode)
1987

Casualty
Nancy · (1 episode)
1986

Castaway
Sister Saint Winifred
1986

A Zed & Two Noughts
Venus de Milo
1985

White City
Alice
1985

Hard Feelings
Viv
1984

A Flame to the Phoenix
Wanda Grabinska
1983

Those Glory Glory Days
Woman
1983

Reilly: Ace of Spies
Dagmara · (3 episodes)
1983

Acceptable Levels
Jill
1983

The Missionary
Mission Girl
1982

Timewatch
Annie Besant · (1 episode)
1982

Home Sweet Home
Melody
1982

An Audience with...
Self · (1 episode)
1978

Play for Today
Melody · (1 episode)
1970