Sarah Lancashire is a 62-year-old English actress from Oldham, Greater Manchester, best known for Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Last Tango in Halifax and Julia. Born on October 10, 1964, she is one of the most acclaimed British television actors of her generation, with BAFTA wins for both Last Tango in Halifax and Happy Valley. She is married to television executive Peter Salmon.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Sarah Lancashire |
| Age | 62 years old |
| Date of Birth | October 10, 1964 |
| Birthplace | Oldham, Greater Manchester, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Husband | Peter Salmon (married 2001) |
| Known For | Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Last Tango in Halifax, Julia |
| Years Active | 1986–present |
Who Is Sarah Lancashire?
Sarah Lancashire is an English actress whose career spans more than three decades of British television. She first became famous as Raquel Watts in Coronation Street in the early 1990s, and she went on to star in Last Tango in Halifax as Caroline Dawson, winning a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress, and in Happy Valley as Sergeant Catherine Cawood, a role that won her the BAFTA for Best Actress twice. She also played the American chef Julia Child in the HBO series Julia from 2022 to 2023.
Lancashire is widely regarded as one of the finest television actors in Britain. Her portrayal of Catherine Cawood, a police sergeant in a West Yorkshire town dealing with grief, addiction and violent crime, was praised as one of the great performances in British television drama. She was appointed OBE in 2017 for services to drama.
Early Life & Background
Sarah Lancashire was born on October 10, 1964, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. Her father, Geoffrey Lancashire, was a television scriptwriter who wrote for Coronation Street, so she grew up around the world of television drama. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 1986, and began her career in theatre.
Her early stage work included roles with the National Theatre, and she began appearing on television in the late 1980s. Her first major television role came in 1991, when she joined the cast of Coronation Street as Raquel Watts, a character who would become one of the soap’s most popular figures of the decade.
Career
Lancashire played Raquel Watts in Coronation Street from 1991 to 1996, returning briefly in 2000. Raquel, a hairdresser with dreams of a better life, became a much-loved character, and Lancashire’s performance made her a star. After leaving the soap, she took leading roles in dramas such as Where the Heart Is from 1997 to 1999 and Clocking Off from 2000 to 2001.
In 2012 she joined the cast of Last Tango in Halifax as Caroline Dawson, a headteacher whose life is turned upside down when her widowed mother rekindles a romance. Her performance won her the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2014. Two years later she took on the role that would define her career: Sergeant Catherine Cawood in Sally Wainwright’s Happy Valley, which ran from 2014 to 2023. She won the BAFTA for Best Actress for the show in 2017 and again in 2024 for its third and final series.
Her other work has included Adelaide in Lark Rise to Candleford from 2008 to 2011 and the title role in the HBO series Julia from 2022 to 2023, in which she played the American chef Julia Child. Across her career she has moved between soaps, crime dramas, comedies and period pieces, earning a reputation as one of the most versatile and reliable actors in British television.
Facts About Sarah Lancashire
- She was born in Oldham; her father Geoffrey Lancashire wrote for Coronation Street.
- She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1986.
- Her breakthrough role was Raquel Watts in Coronation Street from 1991 to 1996.
- She won BAFTAs for Last Tango in Halifax and for Happy Valley.
- She was appointed OBE in 2017 for services to drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sarah Lancashire?
Sarah Lancashire is 62 years old. She was born on October 10, 1964, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.
How tall is Sarah Lancashire?
Sarah Lancashire is 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) tall.
Who is Sarah Lancashire married to?
Sarah Lancashire is married to television executive Peter Salmon. They married in 2001.
What is Sarah Lancashire best known for?
Sarah Lancashire is best known for Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Last Tango in Halifax and Julia.
Did Sarah Lancashire win a BAFTA?
Yes. Sarah Lancashire won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2014 for Last Tango in Halifax, and the BAFTA for Best Actress in 2017 and 2024 for Happy Valley.
How old is Sarah Lancashire?
Sarah Lancashire is 62 years old. She was born on October 10, 1964, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.
How tall is Sarah Lancashire?
Sarah Lancashire is 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) tall.
Who is Sarah Lancashire married to?
Sarah Lancashire is married to television executive Peter Salmon. They married in 2001.
What is Sarah Lancashire best known for?
Sarah Lancashire is best known for Happy Valley, Coronation Street, Last Tango in Halifax and Julia.
Did Sarah Lancashire win a BAFTA?
Yes. Sarah Lancashire won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2014 for Last Tango in Halifax, and the BAFTA for Best Actress in 2017 and 2024 for Happy Valley.
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