Frances Barber

Frances Barber was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. She attended Bangor University.

Alongside the Pet Shop Boys, she starred in their musical Closer to Heaven. She also appeared alongside Ian McKellen and Roger Allam in the Old Vic's pantomime production of Aladdin over the 2005-06 Christmas season. She also starred with McKellen in 2007 playing Goneril in Trevor Nunn's production of King Lear and as Arkadina in Chekhov's The Seagull with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She appeared in Madame de Sade opposite Judi Dench and Rosamund Pike at the Wyndham's Theatre, and will soon be appearing opposite Niall Buggy in Brian Friel's Afterplay, in a celebration of the author's work.

She has appeared in a number of films including A Zed & Two Noughts (1985), Castaway (1986), Prick Up Your Ears (1987), Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987), Behaving Badly (1989), Red Dwarf - "Polymorph" (1989), The Leaving of Liverpool (1992), Giorgino (1994), Space Precinct (1995) (TV), A Royal Scandal (1996), The Ice House (1997), Still Crazy (1998), Murder Most Horrid (1998), Bremner, Bird and Fortune (1999), Manchild (2002), Flyfishing (2002), Boudica (2003), Monkey Dust (2003), Evilenko (2004), The IT Crowd - "Aunt Irma Visits" (2005), Funland (2005), Hustle (2007), King Lear (2008), Beautiful People (2008), The Fattest Man in Britain (2009).

On Television Barber guest starred in the spring 2007 season of the BBCs Hustle. In 2008, she appeared as Mrs Prentice in the BBC sitcom Beautiful People and Nancy in Casualty.