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

HD

Stuffed

2025 ⭐ 6.0

HD

Fackham Hall

2025 ⭐ 6.7

HD

Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy

2023 ⭐ 8.0

HD

Downton Abbey: A New Era

2022 ⭐ 7.2

Career timeline

2026

Welcome to Borovia

Matrashka · 2026

2025

Stuffed

Lily · 2025

⭐ 6.0

Fackham Hall

Great Aunt Bonaparte · 2025

⭐ 6.7

Big Winners

Edith Thistle · 2025

2024

The Big Snow of '47

Self - Narrator (voice) · 2024

2023

Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy Notable

Self · 2023

⭐ 8.0

Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Family

Barbara Royle (archive footage · 2023

The Royle Family - Down the Back of the Sofa

Self / Barbara Royle (archive · 2023

2022

Downton Abbey: A New Era Notable

Gladys Denker · 2022

⭐ 7.2

2021

Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story

Self · 2021

⭐ 6.4

Help Notable

Gloria · 2021

⭐ 7.0

2019

The Cure Notable

Bella Bailey · 2019

⭐ 7.5

2018

Death on the Tyne

Colleen · 2018

⭐ 5.8

Walk Like a Panther

Gladys · 2018

⭐ 6.2

2017

Diana and the Paparazzi

Narrator (voice) · 2017

Shannon Matthews: The Mother's Story

Narrator · 2017

Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next

Self - Narrator · 2017

2016

British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

Barbara Royle (archive footage · 2016

⭐ 5.7

World Cup 1966: Alfie's Boys Notable

Self · 2016

⭐ 7.0

Golden Years

Nancy · 2016

⭐ 6.3

2015

The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One Notable

Self · 2015

⭐ 9.3

2012

The Royle Family: Barbara's Old Ring Notable

Barbara Royle · 2012

⭐ 7.0

2011

Lapland

Eileen Lewis · 2011

2010

The Royle Family: Joe's Crackers Notable

Barbara · 2010

⭐ 7.2

The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa Notable

Self · 2010

⭐ 8.4

2009

The Turn of the Screw

Sarah Grose · 2009

⭐ 4.7

The Golden Egg Cup Notable

Barbara Royle · 2009

⭐ 8.0

Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It Notable

Self - Narrator (voice) · 2009

⭐ 7.0

2008

The Royle Family: The New Sofa Notable

Barbara Royle · 2008

⭐ 7.7

2006

Imagine Me & You Notable

Ella · 2006

⭐ 7.6

2005

Liverpool FC: One Night in May

Self · 2005

2002

The Virgin Mary

Self - Presenter · 2002

There's Only One Paul McCartney Notable

Self · 2002

⭐ 8.0

2001

New Year's Day

Mrs. Fisher · 2001

⭐ 5.3

Frequently appears with

Guz Khan

Arslan Farooqi

Morgana Robinson

Hannah

Damian Lewis

Lord Davenport

Katherine Waterston

Lady Davenport

Thomasin McKenzie

Rose

Ben Radcliffe

Eric

Tom Felton

Archibald

Full filmography

HD

Welcome to Borovia

2026

HD

Stuffed

2025 ⭐ 6.0

HD

Fackham Hall

2025 ⭐ 6.7

HD

Big Winners

2025

HD

The Big Snow of '47

2024

HD

Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy

2023 ⭐ 8.0

HD

Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Family

2023

HD

The Royle Family - Down the Back of the Sofa

2023

HD

Downton Abbey: A New Era

2022 ⭐ 7.2

HD

Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story

2021 ⭐ 6.4

HD

Help

2021 ⭐ 7.0

HD

The Cure

2019 ⭐ 7.5

HD

Death on the Tyne

2018 ⭐ 5.8

HD

Walk Like a Panther

2018 ⭐ 6.2

HD

Diana and the Paparazzi

2017

HD

Shannon Matthews: The Mother's Story

2017

HD

Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next

2017

HD

British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

2016 ⭐ 5.7

HD

World Cup 1966: Alfie's Boys

2016 ⭐ 7.0

HD

Golden Years

2016 ⭐ 6.3