Sue Johnston
Acting
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Sue Johnston
Brassed Off
1996
Filmography
Acting (48)
2026
The Broken Arrowas Mrs. Barnes
2026
Welcome to Boroviaas Matrashka
5.0
2025
Stuffedas Lily
6.0
2025
Fackham Hallas Great Aunt Bonaparte
6.7
2025
Big Winnersas Edith Thistle
2024
The Big Snow of '47as Self - Narrator (voice)
2023
8.0
2023
Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Familyas Barbara Royle (archive footage)
8.5
2023
The Royle Family - Down the Back of the Sofaas Self / Barbara Royle (archive footage)
2022
Downton Abbey: A New Eraas Gladys Denker
7.2
2021
6.4
2021
Helpas Gloria
7.0
2020
David Jason: Britain's Favourite TV Staras Narrator
2019
The Cureas Bella Bailey
7.5
2018
Death on the Tyneas Colleen
5.8
2018
Walk Like a Pantheras Gladys
6.2
2017
Diana and the Paparazzias Narrator (voice)
2017
Shannon Matthews: The Mother's Storyas Narrator
2017
Shannon Matthews: What Happened Nextas Self - Narrator
2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselvesas Barbara Royle (archive footage) (uncredited)
5.7
2016
World Cup 1966: Alfie's Boysas Self
7.0
2016
Golden Yearsas Nancy
6.3
2015
9.3
2014
Caring for the Recently Deceasedas Marjoram Bryon
2012
The Royle Family: Barbara's Old Ringas Barbara Royle
7.0
2011
Laplandas Eileen Lewis
2010
The Royle Family: Joe's Crackersas Barbara
7.2
2010
8.4
2009
The Turn of the Screwas Sarah Grose
4.7
2009
The Golden Egg Cupas Barbara Royle
8.0
2009
Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help Itas Self - Narrator (voice)
7.0
2008
The Royle Family: The New Sofaas Barbara Royle
7.7
2006
Imagine Me & Youas Ella
7.6
2005
2002
The Virgin Maryas Self - Presenter
2002
8.0
2001
New Year's Dayas Mrs. Fisher
5.3
2001
Scoreas Maggie
7.0
1998
Brookside: Friday the 13thas Sheila Grant
5.5
1998
The Things You Do for Love: Against the Oddsas Pat Phoenix
9.0
1997
Brookside: The Lost Weekendas Sheila Grant
7.6
1997
Faceas Alice
6.3
1997
Preaching to the Pervertedas Esmeralda
6.1
1996
Brassed Offas Vera
7.0
1994
Measure for Measureas Mistress Overdone
3.3
1992
Bitter Harvestas Miriam Johnson
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Bilbyas Nancy