Sue Johnston
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
TV
Downton Abbey
Miss Denker
2010
TV
Hollyoaks
Sheila Grant
1995
TV
Loose Women
Self
1999
TV
Waking the Dead
Dr. Grace Foley
2001
TV
Brookside
Sheila Grant
1982
TV
Strictly Come Dancing
Self
2004
TV
Parkinson
Self
1998
TV
The Paul O'Grady Show
2004
TV
Today
Self
1952
TV
A Touch of Frost
Phyllis Bowman
1992
TV
Inspector Morse
Mrs. Bailey
1987
TV
Would I Lie to You?
Self
2007
TV
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
Self
2007
TV
Performance
Mistress Overdone
1991
TV
Timeshift
Self - Narrator
2002
TV
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Self - Participant
2011
TV
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self
2004
Film
Fackham Hall
Great Aunt Bonaparte
2025
TV
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
Helga Allowby
1996
TV
Jam and Jerusalem
Sal Vine
2006
Filmography
2025FilmStuffedas Lily2025FilmFackham Hallas Great Aunt Bonaparte2025TVDexter Procteras Granny Bet2025FilmBig Winnersas Edith Thistle2024TVGeneration Zas Cecily2024TVRicky, Sue & a Trip or Twoas Herself2024TVTrueloveas Marion2024FilmThe Big Snow of '47as Self - Narrator (voice)2023FilmCaroline Aherne: Queen of Comedyas Self2023FilmRicky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Familyas Barbara Royle (archive footage)2023FilmThe Royle Family - Down the Back of the Sofaas Self / Barbara Royle (archive footage)2022FilmDownton Abbey: A New Eraas Gladys Denker2022TVThe Responderas Madge2021FilmRobbo: The Bryan Robson Storyas Self2021FilmHelpas Gloria2021TVKensington Palace: Behind Closed Doorsas Narrator2021TVTimeas June Cobden2021TVTaskmaster’s New Year Treatas Self2020FilmDavid Jason: Britain's Favourite TV Staras Narrator2019FilmThe Cureas Bella Bailey2019TVThe Cockfieldsas Sue2019TVDNA Journeyas Self2018FilmDeath on the Tyneas Colleen2018TVAge Before Beautyas Ivy-Rae Regan2018FilmWalk Like a Pantheras Gladys2017FilmDiana and the Paparazzias Narrator (voice)2017FilmShannon Matthews: The Mother's Storyas Narrator2017TVHarry Hill's Alien Fun Capsuleas Self2017FilmShannon Matthews: What Happened Nextas Self - Narrator2016FilmBritish Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselvesas Barbara Royle (archive footage) (uncredited)2016TVRoversas Doreen2016FilmWorld Cup 1966: Alfie's Boysas Self2016FilmGolden Yearsas Nancy2015FilmThe Nation's Favourite Beatles Number Oneas Self2014FilmCaring for the Recently Deceasedas Marjoram Bryon2013TVBeing Eileenas Eileen Lewis2012FilmThe Royle Family: Barbara's Old Ringas Barbara Royle2012TVGatesas Miss Hunter2011FilmLaplandas Eileen Lewis2011TVCelebrity Antiques Road Tripas Self - Participant2011TVSugartown2011TVBaby Hospital2010FilmThe Royle Family: Joe's Crackersas Barbara2010FilmThe Royle Family: Behind the Sofaas Self2010TVDownton Abbeyas Miss Denker2010TVA Passionate Womanas Betty (1980s)2009FilmThe Turn of the Screwas Sarah Grose2009FilmThe Golden Egg Cupas Barbara Royle2009FilmTourettes: I Swear I Can't Help Itas Self - Narrator (voice)2008FilmThe Royle Family: The New Sofaas Barbara Royle2008TVLittle Dorritas Affery / Affery Flintwinch2007TVThe Alan Titchmarsh Showas Self2007TVWould I Lie to You?as Self2006TVJam and Jerusalemas Sal Vine2006TVThe Street2006FilmImagine Me & Youas Ella2005FilmLiverpool FC: One Night in May2004TVWho Do You Think You Are?as Self2004TVThe Paul O'Grady Show2004TVStrictly Come Dancingas Self2002FilmThe Virgin Maryas Self - Presenter2002TVTimeshiftas Self - Narrator2002TVCutting Itas Caroline Ferraday2001TVMy Uncle Silasas Mrs. Betts2001TVWaking the Deadas Dr. Grace Foley2001FilmScoreas Maggie2000FilmNew Year's Dayas Mrs. Fisher1999TVFinest Houras Commentary1999TVLoose Womenas Self1999FilmSex, Chips & Rock n' Roll1999TVSex, Chips & Rock n' Rollas Irma1998FilmBrookside: Friday the 13thas Sheila Grant1998TVThe Royle Familyas Barbara Royle1998TVThe Jumpas Maeve Brunos1998FilmThe Things You Do for Love: Against the Oddsas Pat Phoenix1998TVDuck Patrolas Val Rutland1998TVParkinsonas Self1997FilmBrookside: The Lost Weekendas Sheila Grant1997FilmFaceas Alice1997FilmPreaching to the Pervertedas Esmeralda1997TVCrime Traveller1996FilmBrassed Offas Vera1996TVHetty Wainthropp Investigatesas Helga Allowby1995TVHollyoaksas Sheila Grant1994FilmMeasure for Measureas Mistress Overdone1993TVLuv1993TVFull Stretchas Grace Robbins1992TVA Touch of Frostas Phyllis Bowman1992FilmBitter Harvestas Miriam Johnson1992TVGoodbye Cruel Worldas Barbara Grade1991TVPerformanceas Mistress Overdone1990TVMedics1987TVInspector Morseas Mrs. Bailey1982TVBrooksideas Sheila Grant1952TVTodayas Self—FilmBilbyas Nancy