A British actress and director, born in Oldham Lancashire, England, UK, on October 4, 1964. She is the daughter of screenwriter Jeffrey Lancashire. She graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1986. She received a National Television Award in 2000, a BAFTA TV Award in 2014, and a Golden Nymph Award at Monte-Carlo TV Festival in 2015. She married Gary Hargreaves (1985-1995), with whom she has 2 children, and after they divorced, she married producer Peter Salmon in 2001 and has 1 child with him. She is known for Happy Valley (2014-2022), Yesterday (2019) and Seeing Red (2000).