Person
Sue Johnston
Acting · Born 1943-12-07 · Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK
Biography
Susan Johnston, OBE (née Wright; born 7 December 1943) is an English actress known for playing Sheila Grant in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1982–1990), Barbara Royle in the BBC comedy The Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006, 2008–2010, 2012), Grace Foley in the BBC drama Waking the Dead (2000–2011), Gloria Price in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2012–2014) and Miss Denker in the ITV drama Downton Abbey (2014–2015). She won the 2000 British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress and was nominated for the 2000 BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance for The Royle Family.
Known for
Brookside
Sheila Grant
Loose Women
Self
Downton Abbey
Miss Denker
Hollyoaks
Sheila Grant
Today
Self
A Touch of Frost
Phyllis Bowman
Waking the Dead
Dr. Grace Foley
Inspector Morse
Mrs. Bailey
Strictly Come Dancing
Self
Would I Lie to You?
Self
Filmography
- 2026Ann DroidSue
- 2026Welcome to BoroviaMatrashka
- 2025StuffedLily
- 2025Fackham HallGreat Aunt Bonaparte
- 2025Dexter ProcterGranny Bet
- 2025Big WinnersEdith Thistle
- 2025Play for TodayEdith Thistle
- 2024Generation ZCecily
- 2024Ricky, Sue & a Trip or TwoHerself
- 2024TrueloveMarion
- 2024The Big Snow of '47Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2023Caroline Aherne: Queen of ComedySelf
- 2023Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle FamilyBarbara Royle (archive footage)
- 2023The Royle Family - Down the Back of the SofaSelf / Barbara Royle (archive footage)
- 2022Downton Abbey: A New EraGladys Denker
- 2022The ResponderMadge
- 2021Robbo: The Bryan Robson StorySelf
- 2021HelpGloria
- 2021Kensington Palace: Behind Closed DoorsNarrator
- 2021TimeJune Cobden
- 2021Taskmaster’s New Year TreatSelf
- 2020David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV StarNarrator
- 2019The CureBella Bailey
- 2019The CockfieldsSue
- 2019DNA JourneySelf
- 2019Celebrity Gogglebox
- 2018Death on the TyneColleen
- 2018Age Before BeautyIvy-Rae Regan
- 2018Walk Like a PantherGladys
- 2017Diana and the PaparazziNarrator (voice)
- 2017Shannon Matthews: The Mother's StoryNarrator
- 2017Harry Hill's Alien Fun CapsuleSelf
- 2017Shannon Matthews: What Happened NextSelf - Narrator
- 2016British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at OurselvesBarbara Royle (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2016RoversDoreen
- 2016World Cup 1966: Alfie's BoysSelf
- 2016Golden YearsNancy
- 2015The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number OneSelf
- 2014Caring for the Recently DeceasedMarjoram Bryon
- 2013Being EileenEileen Lewis
- 2012The Royle Family: Barbara's Old RingBarbara Royle
- 2012GatesMiss Hunter
- 2011LaplandEileen Lewis
- 2011Celebrity Antiques Road TripSelf - Participant
- 2011Sugartown
- 2011Baby Hospital
- 2010The Royle Family: Joe's CrackersBarbara
- 2010The Royle Family: Behind the SofaSelf
- 2010Downton AbbeyMiss Denker
- 2010A Passionate WomanBetty (1980s)
- 2009The Turn of the ScrewSarah Grose
- 2009The Golden Egg CupBarbara Royle
- 2009Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help ItSelf - Narrator (voice)
- 2008The Royle Family: The New SofaBarbara Royle
- 2008Little DorritAffery / Affery Flintwinch
- 2007The Alan Titchmarsh ShowSelf
- 2007Would I Lie to You?Self
- 2006Jam and JerusalemSal Vine
- 2006The Street
- 2006Imagine Me & YouElla
- 2005Liverpool FC: One Night in MaySelf
- 2004Who Do You Think You Are?Self
- 2004The Paul O'Grady Show
- 2004Strictly Come DancingSelf
- 2002The Virgin MarySelf - Presenter
- 2002TimeshiftSelf - Narrator
- 2002There's Only One Paul McCartneySelf
- 2002Cutting ItCaroline Ferraday
- 2001New Year's DayMrs. Fisher
- 2001My Uncle SilasMrs Betts
- 2001Waking the DeadDr. Grace Foley
- 2001ScoreMaggie
- 1999Finest HourCommentary
- 1999Loose WomenSelf
- 1999Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
- 1999Sex, Chips & Rock n' RollIrma
- 1998Brookside: Friday the 13thSheila Grant
- 1998The Royle FamilyBarbara Royle
- 1998The JumpMaeve Brunos
- 1998The Things You Do for Love: Against the OddsPat Phoenix
- 1998Duck PatrolVal Rutland
- 1998ParkinsonSelf
- 1997Brookside: The Lost WeekendSheila Grant
- 1997FaceAlice
- 1997Preaching to the PervertedEsmeralda
- 1997Crime TravellerDetective Chief Inspector Kate Grisham
- 1996Brassed OffVera
- 1996Hetty Wainthropp InvestigatesHelga Allowby
- 1995HollyoaksSheila Grant
- 1994Measure for MeasureMistress Overdone
- 1993Luv
- 1993Full StretchGrace Robbins
- 1992A Touch of FrostPhyllis Bowman
- 1992Bitter HarvestMiriam Johnson
- 1992Goodbye Cruel WorldBarbara Grade
- 1991PerformanceMistress Overdone
- 1991In Suspicious CircumstancesEdith Rosse
- 1990Medics
- 1987Inspector MorseMrs. Bailey
- 1986ScreenPlayMiriam Johnson
- 1982BrooksideSheila Grant
- 1952TodaySelf
- —BilbyNancy
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