She is best known for her role as Roxanne in the film Secrets & Lies (1996), and for playing Linda Earl-Bouchtat (Rae's Mum) in My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015).
Other credits include The Sins (2000), Linda Green (2001–02), the sitcom Carrie & Barry (2004–05), Whitechapel (2009–2013), Home Fires (2015–16), Enola Holmes (2020), and Ammonite (2020).
[3] She guest starred in the episodes "The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit" in Doctor Who and had supporting roles in films Secrets & Lies and Spice World.
[4] From 2013 to 2015, she played Linda Earl-Bouchtat, Rae's Mum, in the television series My Mad Fat Diary,[4] for which she received a 2014 nomination for BAFTA Best Supporting Actress.
[7] In 2016, she appeared in Home Fires (2015–16),[4] in 2020, she worked alongside Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill in Enola Holmes (as Mrs Lane) and with Saoirse Ronan in the film Ammonite.