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Jane Horrocks
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Jane Horrocks
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Barbara Jane Horrocks (born 18 January 1964)[1] is a British actress. She portrayed Bubble and Katy Grin in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. She was nominated for the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the title role in the stage play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for the role in the film version of Little Voice.

Key Information

She is also known for her appearances in films, including The Dressmaker (1988), The Witches (1990), Second Best (1993), Life is Sweet (1990), Chicken Run (2000), Corpse Bride (2005), Sunshine on Leith (2013), Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016), as well as the television series Fifi and the Flowertots (2005–2010), Little Princess (2006–2020), and the Sky One sitcom Trollied, as Julie Cook (2011–2015).

Early life

[edit]

Horrocks was born in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, the daughter of Barbara (née Ashworth), a hospital worker, and John Horrocks, a sales representative.[citation needed][2] She is the youngest of three children.

She attended Balladen County Primary School and Fearns County Secondary School. She trained at Oldham College, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with Imogen Stubbs and Ralph Fiennes,[3] and began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company.[4]

Career

[edit]

Stage

[edit]

Horrocks has appeared on stage in Ask for the Moon (Hampstead, 1986), A Collier's Friday Night (Greenwich, 1987), Valued Friends (Hampstead, 1989), and The Debutante Ball (Hampstead, 1989). She appeared in Our Own Kind (Bush, 1991); Deadly Advice (Fletcher, 1993); Cabaret (Donmar Warehouse 1994); Macbeth (Greenwich Theatre, 1995); and Absurd Person Singular (Garrick Theatre, 2007).

While working on Road, a play directed by Jim Cartwright, Horrocks warmed up by doing singing impressions of Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and Ethel Merman. Cartwright was so impressed with her mimicry he wrote The Rise and Fall of Little Voice for her.[citation needed] She was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress at the 1993 Laurence Olivier Awards for her performance in the 1992 West End production, directed by her then-boyfriend Sam Mendes.[citation needed]

Her last West End appearance was in Sweet Panic, the 2003 Stephen Poliakoff drama in which she portrayed a neurotic mother locked in a battle of wills with her disturbed son's psychologist.[citation needed] She starred in Richard Jones's critically acclaimed production of The Good Soul of Szechuan at the Young Vic in 2008.[5] She was reunited with Jones in a new musical production of Annie Get Your Gun, which opened at the Young Vic in October 2009.[6] At London's Young Vic, in 2016's If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Horrocks revisited the songs of her youth to sing versions of tracks by the likes of Joy Division, The Smiths, Buzzcocks, and The Human League.[7]

In October 2014, Horrocks played Ella Khan in the London revival of East Is East at Trafalgar Studios as part of Jamie Lloyd's Trafalgar Transformed season.[8] In 2024, Horrocks joined the cast of the British premiere production of play Nachtland at the Young Vic theatre, directed by Patrick Marber.[9]

In August 2024, Horrocks starred as Meg in Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party at the Ustinov Studio.[10]

Screen

[edit]

She appeared in Catherine Cookson's The Fifteen Streets, alongside Sean Bean and Owen Teale and portrayed Pattern, the housemaid, in Stuart Orme's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Both films were released in 1989. She drew critical notice for her performance in the film Life Is Sweet (1990). She also portrayed Miss Irvine, the mistreated assistant of Eva Ernst / The Grand High Witch in Nicolas Roeg's The Witches (1990). Horrocks became well known on screen for her role as Bubble and Katy Grin in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2016).

She reprised her stage role in the 1998 screen adaptation, Little Voice, which earned nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 56th Golden Globe Awards, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 52nd British Academy Film Awards, the Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 3rd Golden Satellite Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture at the 5th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the British Independent Film Award for Best Actress.[citation needed]

For 10 years, Horrocks appeared with Prunella Scales in commercials for the UK supermarket chain Tesco.[11] She narrated BBC Two's television series The Speaker in April 2009.

In 2009, Horrocks took the lead in the BBC TV production Gracie!, a drama portraying the life of Gracie Fields during World War II and her relationship with the Italian-born director Monty Banks (played by Tom Hollander).[12]

Other television credits include Absolutely Fabulous, Victoria Wood - We'd Quite Like to Apologise, Bad Girl, Boon, Heartland, Hunting Venus, La Nonna, Leaving Home, Never Mind the Horrocks, Nightlife, Wyrd Sisters, Foxbusters, Jericho, Red Dwarf, Some Kind of Life, Suffer the Little Children, The Storyteller, The Garden, Fifi & the Flowertots, Little Princess (the voice of the princess) and Welcome to the Times.[citation needed]

She was the subject of an episode of the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in 2006. That year, she played the title role of Ros Pritchard in The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, a drama about a woman elected prime minister.

On Tuesday 14 January 2014, Horrocks appeared as a contestant on The Great Sport Relief Bake Off on BBC Two— the celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off—hosted by Jo Brand and broadcast to help raise money for the charity Sport Relief. The other contestants were TV and radio presenter Kirsty Young, choreographer Jason Gardiner, and Olympic athlete Greg Rutherford.

On 9 May 2015, she gave a reading at VE Day 70: A Party to Remember in Horse Guards Parade, London that was broadcast live on BBC1.[13]

In 2015, she supplied the voice of the Tubby Phone in the reboot of the popular British children's television series Teletubbies. In 2021, she began starring in the Sky comedy series Bloods.[14]

Audio

[edit]

Horrocks' voiceovers have been used on the films Chicken Run, Christmas Carol: The Movie, Corpse Bride, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, and Tinker Bell. She also did the voiceover of Fenchurch on radio and in the audio adaptation of Douglas Adams' science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for BBC Radio 4. She has voiced Donner in all three Robbie the Reindeer films in aid of Comic Relief.

In 2000, Horrocks made the CD Further Adventures of Little Voice, again singing in the style of favourite divas.[citation needed] The recording includes duets with Ewan McGregor, Robbie Williams and Dean Martin. Horrocks collaborated once more with Robbie Williams the following year, for a cover of the Bobby Darin song "Things" on Williams' album Swing When You're Winning.

Personal life

[edit]

Horrocks has two children with her former partner, playwright Nick Vivian. They were together for 21 years, separating in 2017. She currently lives in Brighton.[15]

She was previously in a relationship with director Sam Mendes. She was in a relationship with the singer and actor Ian Dury, about whom she devised the 2022 drama, Love Pants: Ian Dury & Jane Horrocks, for BBC Radio 4, based on her own diary entries and his love letters to her during their one-year relationship in the 1980s, when she was 23. The two remained friends until his death in 2000.[16][17][15] Horrocks' father died in 2013 and her mother in 2021.[citation needed]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Directed by
1988 The Dressmaker Rita Jim O'Brien
1989 Getting It Right Jenny Randal Kleiser
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Pattern Stuart Orme
1990 The Witches Miss Susan Irvine Nicolas Roeg
Memphis Belle Faith Michael Caton-Jones
Life Is Sweet Nicola Mike Leigh
1993 Second Best Debbie Chris Menges
1994 Deadly Advice Jodie Greenwood Mandie Fletcher
1997 Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis Mavis Davis / Marla Dorland John Henderson
1998 Little Voice Laura "LV" Hoff Mark Herman
1999 Faeries Huccaby (voice) Gary Hurst
Hooves of Fire Donner (voice)
2000 Chicken Run Babs (voice) Peter Lord & Nick Park
Born Romantic Maureen "Mo" Docherty David Kane
Lion of Oz Wimsik (voice) Tim Deacon
2001 Christmas Carol: The Movie Ghost of Christmas Past (voice) Jimmy T. Murakami
2002 Legend of the Lost Tribe Donner (voice)
2005 Corpse Bride The Black Widow / Mrs. Plum (voice) Tim Burton
Brothers of the Head Roberta Howe Keith Fulton & Louis Pepe
2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Meenie (voice) Tim Hill
2007 Close Encounters of the Herd Kind Donner (voice)
2008 Tinker Bell Fairy Mary (voice) Bradley Raymond
2009 Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure Klay Hall
2010 No One Gets Off in This Town
2011 Arthur Christmas Lead Elf (voice) Sarah Smith
2012 Secret of the Wings Fairy Mary (voice) Bobs Gannaway & Peggy Holmes
2013 Sunshine on Leith Jean Henshaw Dexter Fletcher
2014 The Pirate Fairy Fairy Mary Peggy Holmes
2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Bubble/Shirley Bassey impersonator Mandie Fletcher
2018 Swimming with Men Heather Scott Oliver Parker
2023 Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget Babs (voice) Sam Fell

Television series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1987 First Sight Natalie Episode: "Leaving Home" (1.3)
Screenplay Louise Episode: "The Road" (2.13)
1988 The Storyteller Anja Episode: "The True Bride" (1.9)
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Pippa Bond Episode: "No Crying He Makes" (2.7)
1989 The Jim Henson Hour Anja Episode: "Musicians" (1.8)
Victoria Wood Cathy Warburton Episode: "We'd Quite Like to Apologise" (1.4)
Smith & Jones Episode: "The Unprepared Version" (5.6)
1990 Boon Trisha Downey Episode: "Best Left Buried" (5.11)
1991 Screen One Gail Episode: "Alive and Kicking" (3.7)
Performance Episode: "Nona" (1.2)
1992 Red Dwarf Nirvanah Crane Episode: "Holoship" (5.1)
Screenplay Maggie Hunt Episode: "Bad Girl" (7.3)
Performance Episode: "Roots" (2.3)
1992–2012 Absolutely Fabulous Bubble
(also played Katy Grin, Lola and radio voice) 		33 episodes
1995 Performance Doll Tearsheet Episode: "Henry IV" (5.5)
1995–1998 Crapston Villas Flossie 20 episodes (all episodes)
1996 Tales from the Crypt Cammy Episode: "Cold War" (7.6)
Never Mind the Horrocks Various roles
1997 Wyrd Sisters Magrat Garlick (voice) Television mini-series
The Blobs Various (voice) 26 Episodes (all episodes) (S4C, Scottish Television, Siriol, DC Thomson, Taytel and Ragdoll Limited (live-action shoot))
1997–1999 The Forgotten Toys Various roles (voice)
1999 Foxbusters Jeffries (voice) 26 Episodes (all episodes)
1999–2000 Watership Down Hannah 14 episodes
2000 Mirrorball Yitta Hilberstam Television pilot
Spot the Dog Narrator 26 Episodes were re-narrated over the originals that were done by Paul Nicholas.
2001 Little Big Mouth Krystan (voice)
2002 Linda Green Teresa Franklin Episode: "Teresa" (2.2)
2003–2004 Wide-Eye Flea (voice)
Baby Komodo (voice)
Natterjack Toads (voices) 		26 episodes (All episodes)
2004 Monkey Trousers Various roles
2005 Jericho Sadie Swettenham Episode: "To Murder and Create" (1.3)
2005–2010 Fifi and the Flowertots Fifi Forget-Me-Not and Primrose (UK/US voice) 40 episodes
2006 The Street Angela Quinn Episodes: "The Accident" (1.1)
"Stan" (1.2)
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard Ros Pritchard 6 episodes (all episodes)
2006–2020 Little Princess Little Princess (voice)
2011 Coming Up Felicity Episode: "Magic" (6.5)
Phineas and Ferb Eliza (voice) Episode: "My Fair Goalie" (3.11)
This is Jinsy Mrs. Stenton Episode: "Vel" (1.6)
Little Crackers Hairdresser Episode: "Jane Horrocks' Little Cracker: Barbara" (2.3)
Pixie Hollow Games Fairy Mary (voice) Television special
2011–2013, 2015 Trollied Julie Cook 37 episodes
2012 Get Your House in Order Narrator (voice) Episode: "Stuart" (1.3)
True Love Sandra Episode: "Sandra" (1.4)
2014 Lily's Driftwood Bay Wee Rabbit
2015 Inside No. 9 Liz "Cold Comfort" (2.4)
Long Live the Royals Queen Elenor (voice) UK version only
2015–2018 Teletubbies Tubby Phone (voice) Darrall MacQueen, DHX Media and CBeebies
2019-present The Rubbish World of Dave Spud Gran Spud (voice) Except "Two Toots Spud", "An Honest Face" and "Night School"
2020 The Singapore Grip Sylvia Blackett TV series
2021 Hugo the Jungle Animal Baby Hugo Episode: "Baby Hugo"
2021–2022 Bloods Wendy Main role
2025 Here We Go Ethel Ticehurst Episode: "Granny's Uno Hustle"
RuPaul's Drag Race UK Herself (Guest judge) Series 7

Television films

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1989 The Fifteen Streets Christine Bracken
Heartland Pam
1991 Came Out, It Rained, Went Back in Again Learner Lesbian
1993 Cabaret Sally Bowles
1994 Self Catering Marilyn
Suffer the Little Children Deborah Hayes
1995 Some Kind of Life Alison
1996 Nightlife Helen
1999 Hunting Venus Cassandra
The Flint Street Nativity Zoe
2009 Gracie! Gracie Fields
2010 The Road to Coronation Street Margaret Morris

Short film, television and video

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Butter Beggar Television
1995 Combination Skin (voice) Short film
1999 Hooves of Fire Donner (voice) Television
2002 Legend of the Lost Tribe Donner / Arctic Fox (voice)
Last Rumba in Rochdale Gran (voice) Short film
2004 Wheeling Dealing Authentic Newsreader
2006 Voices from the Underworld Herself (voice) Video Short
2007 Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind Donner (voice) Television
2011 The Itch of the Golden Nit (voice) Short film

Audio CDs

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Crackers in Space Wendolene[18]

Music videos

[edit]

Awards and honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jane Horrocks

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Barbara Jane Horrocks (born 18 January 1964) is an English actress, voice artist, singer, and comedian renowned for her versatile performances across stage, television, film, and animation, often characterized by her distinctive accent and vocal impressions of iconic singers. She first gained widespread acclaim for her role as the eccentric, airheaded fashion assistant Bubble in the sitcom (1992–2012), which she reprised in the 2016 feature film adaptation, contributing to the series' status as a cultural phenomenon in . Horrocks was born in , in the Rossendale Valley of , , to John Horrocks, a sales representative, and Barbara Horrocks, a worker; both parents have since passed away, with her mother dying in 2021 and her father in 2012. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and subsequently joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she honed her craft in classical and contemporary theatre during the 1980s. Her breakthrough came in 1991 with Mike Leigh's film Life Is Sweet, earning her the Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her portrayal of the awkward, bulimic Natalia. Throughout her career, Horrocks has excelled in a range of roles that showcase her vocal talents and comedic timing, including the shy, impressionist singer LV in Jim Cartwright's play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (1992), which won her the Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and its 1998 film adaptation directed by , for which she received a BAFTA for Leading Actress. Other notable film credits include voicing the enthusiastic chicken Babs in ' Chicken Run (2000), the gossipy spider Black Widow in Tim Burton's (2005), and the fairy in Disney's direct-to-video series (2008–2015). On television, she starred as the aspiring Rosalind Price in the political satire (2006) and portrayed singer in the biopic Gracie! (2009). Her stage work continued with a critically praised revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun at the in 2009. In recent years, she has appeared in the Here We Go (2025) and starred in the play Grow (2025). In her personal life, Horrocks had a brief but intense relationship with musician in the mid-1980s, which later evolved into friendship until his death in 2000; she drew from their correspondence for a 2022 Radio 4 drama. She was in a long-term partnership with television writer Nick Vivian from 1996 to 2017, with whom she has two adult children: daughter Molly, a musician in the band , and son Dylan, a businessman. Since 2022, she has lived independently in a Regency flat in , , embracing solitude after a recent separation from actor Danny Webb.

Early life

Family and childhood

Jane Horrocks was born Barbara Jane Horrocks on 18 January 1964 in , , . She was the youngest of three children born to Barbara Horrocks (née Ashworth), a worker, and John Horrocks, a sales representative. Her family came from a lower-middle-class background in the former textile town of , where her parents exhibited aspirational traits, such as her mother's attendance at fancy cooking classes. During her childhood, Horrocks mimicked singers like , earning encouragement from her parents' friends but occasional discouragement from her mother, who viewed her as precocious. She has recalled sibling dynamics, including her older brother calling her "thick" as a child, reflecting a typical family environment in their home. Horrocks left at age 18 to pursue acting in , marking the end of her childhood in the town tied to its industrial weaving heritage.

Education and training

Horrocks attended Balladen Primary School in , , during her early childhood. She later progressed to Fearns High School (formerly Fearns County Secondary School) in nearby Stacksteads, where she developed an interest in . The school's environment fostered her early creative inclinations, and she has revisited the institution for reunions and events in recognition of her achievements. Following secondary school, Horrocks pursued formal drama training at (previously known as Oldham Technical College), where she enrolled in a dedicated drama course to hone her performance skills. This foundational program equipped her with essential techniques in and , preparing her for professional auditions. After completing her studies there, she applied to multiple drama schools and was accepted at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in . At RADA, Horrocks trained intensively in classical and contemporary acting methods, graduating in 1985 with a Diploma in Acting. Her time at the academy emphasized rigorous ensemble work and voice training, which became hallmarks of her versatile career in stage and screen. Upon graduation, she transitioned directly into professional theatre, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company for her debut role.

Career

Theatre work

Jane Horrocks began her professional theatre career in the mid-1980s after training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for a production of in 1985. Her early stage work included the role of Fanny in Shirley Gee's Ask for the Moon at in 1986, marking her debut in a contemporary drama exploring family tensions in a northern English setting. She followed this with appearances in D.H. Lawrence's A Collier's Friday Night at Greenwich Theatre in 1987 and Jim Cartwright's at the Royal Court Theatre later that year, where her performance contributed to the play's raw depiction of working-class despair during the Thatcher era. These roles established her reputation for portraying vulnerable, northern characters with emotional depth, drawing on her roots. Horrocks achieved her breakthrough in 1992 with the originating role of LV in Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the National Theatre's Cottesloe auditorium, directed by her then-partner ; the production transferred to the , where she reprised the shy, talent-imitating teenager to critical acclaim. For this performance, she won the Award for in 1993, praised for her vocal of stars like and , which highlighted her versatility in blending and . The role's propelled her into wider recognition, influencing her subsequent film adaptation in 1998. In the 1990s, Horrocks took on iconic musical and dramatic parts, including in ' revival of at the in 1994, where her interpretation of the disillusioned cabaret singer earned praise for its gritty authenticity amid the show's intimate staging. She then portrayed opposite in a 1995 production at Greenwich Theatre, delivering a contemporary, psychologically intense reading of the ambitious noblewoman that she later described as one of her most extraordinary theatrical experiences. These performances showcased her range across genres, from musicals to . Later in her career, Horrocks continued to select challenging roles in both revivals and new works. In 2003, she starred as Mrs. Trevel in Sweet Panic at the Duke of York's Theatre, a comedy exploring middle-class anxieties. She played the lead in Bertolt Brecht's The Good Soul of Szechuan at the Young Vic in 2008, embodying the moral dilemmas of the protagonist Shen Te in a modern adaptation. Notable musical turns followed, including Annie Oakley in the 2009 Young Vic revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, where her spirited portrayal of the sharpshooting performer revitalized the classic amid economic uncertainty in British theatre. From the late 2000s, Horrocks embraced ensemble and experimental pieces, appearing in Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular at the Garrick Theatre in 2007 and later in the Pinter at the Pinter season at the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2018, contributing to Pinter Five with sketches like The Room and Family Voices. She created and performed If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me at the Young Vic in 2016, a solo show featuring songs by Ian Curtis and Marc Almond to reflect on personal and cultural themes. That year, she also played Regan in Deborah Warner's King Lear at the Old Vic opposite Glenda Jackson, offering a nuanced take on the scheming daughter in a stark, gender-fluid production. More recently, she appeared in Samuel Beckett's Endgame at the Old Vic in early 2020, portraying Nell alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Cumming in a post-apocalyptic comedy that underscored her skill in absurdist drama. In 2024, Horrocks starred as an ensemble member in the British premiere of Nachtland at the Young Vic, directed by Patrick Marber, and as Meg in a revival of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party at Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio, bringing her Olivier-nominated pedigree to the menacing domestic satire. Throughout her theatre career, spanning over three decades, Horrocks has balanced intimate fringe productions with West End prominence, often prioritizing roles that allow vocal and emotional improvisation.

Film and television roles

Horrocks made her film debut in 1988 as Rita in The Dressmaker, a directed by Jim O'Brien, marking her entry into cinema alongside and Peter Postlethwaite. She followed this with supporting roles in Getting It Right (1989), playing the quirky Jenny in a , and as Pattern in the family adventure The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1989), adapted from Joan Aiken's novel and directed by Clive Rees. These early appearances showcased her ability to portray eccentric, vulnerable characters in British independent cinema. Her breakthrough in film came with Mike Leigh's Life Is Sweet (1990), where she played Nicola, one of the troubled twin daughters in a , earning praise for her raw, improvisational performance developed through Leigh's rehearsal process; the role contributed to her winning the Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991. That same year, she appeared as Miss Susan, a kind , in Nicolas Roeg's The Witches, opposite , highlighting her versatility in genre pieces. On television, Horrocks achieved widespread recognition as the ditzy personal assistant Bubble in the sitcom (1992–2004, 2011–2012), created by ; her portrayal of the fashion-obsessed, malapropism-prone character, later expanded to include the dual role of Katy Grin, spanned multiple series and specials, cementing her status as a icon. She reprised Bubble in the 2016 , which grossed over £15 million at the and reunited the original cast for a chaotic narrative involving scandal and exile. In the late , Horrocks delivered a critically acclaimed lead performance as the reclusive singer LV in Little Voice (1998), directed by and based on Jim Cartwright's play written for her; her impersonations of icons like earned BAFTA, Golden Globe, and British Independent Film Award nominations, with critics lauding it as a showcase of her vocal and dramatic range. She also starred in the TV drama Girls' Night (1998), playing a factory worker reuniting with her best friend amid personal crises, opposite . Later television work included the title role in the BBC miniseries The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard (2006), portraying a supermarket manager who rises to Prime Minister through grassroots politics, which earned her the Golden Nymph Award for Best Performance in a Mini-Series at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival. In Jimmy McGovern's The Street (2006), she played a mother entangled in an affair, adding depth to her dramatic portfolio in the episode "The Runner." Horrocks continued with roles like Kay in the comedy-drama Mid Life Christmas (2009) and appearances in series such as Agatha Christie's Marple (2010), maintaining her presence in British broadcasting. In 2025, she appeared as Ethel in an episode of the BBC sitcom Here We Go and as Lady Veronica Smythe-Gherkin in the series Grow.

Voice acting and other media

Horrocks has established a prominent presence in voice acting, lending her distinctive Lancashire accent and versatile vocal range to a variety of animated projects. One of her breakthrough voice roles was as the dim-witted chicken Babs in the Aardman Animations film Chicken Run (2000), where she voiced a character known for her optimistic yet hapless demeanor amid a poultry escape plot; she reprised the role in the sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023). This role showcased her ability to infuse humor and warmth into animated characters, contributing to the film's critical and commercial success as a stop-motion classic. She continued her animation work with the role of the gossipy Black Widow spider and Mrs. Plum in Tim Burton's (2005), adding quirky, ensemble energy to the film's gothic underworld. In the Disney fairy franchise, Horrocks voiced the no-nonsense tinker fairy Fairy Mary in (2012), a sequel emphasizing themes of friendship and discovery among pixies. Her performance as the efficient Lead Elf in the holiday-themed (2011) further highlighted her skill in portraying supportive, bureaucratic figures in fast-paced ensemble animations. Beyond feature films, Horrocks has been a staple in children's television , voicing the forgetful flower Fifi Forget-Me-Not in the series from 2005 to 2009, where she also provided voices for additional characters like Primrose. She narrated the interactive children's series Spot's Musical Adventures (2000) and voiced multiple roles, including Wee Rabbit, in (2014–2016), engaging young audiences with her expressive narration and character work. Other notable animated contributions include the in Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001) and Wimsik in (2000). In radio, Horrocks portrayed Fenchurch, the enigmatic love interest, in the BBC Radio 4 adaptations of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy during the Quandary and Quintessential Phases in 2005, bringing emotional depth to the character's arc in Douglas Adams' sci-fi comedy. She has also contributed voices to other audio media, such as the Tubby Phone in the children's series Teletubbies. Additionally, Horrocks has undertaken commercial voice-over work, including animation showreels that demonstrate her range across promotional and narrative formats. Her voice acting extends to audiobooks and narrations, though specific titles remain less documented in public credits.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Horrocks had her first significant romantic relationship with musician and actor , which began in 1986 when they met during the production of the play at the Royal Court Theatre. The year-long partnership was described by Horrocks as tumultuous and toxic, yet it evolved into a lasting friendship that continued until Dury's death in 2000. In the early 1990s, she dated theatre director , who helmed the acclaimed revival of in which Horrocks starred as . From 1996 to 2017, Horrocks was in a long-term relationship with and Nick Vivian, spanning 21 years, though the couple never married. Following their separation, she entered a relationship with actor Danny Webb, whom she met while co-starring in a 2016 production of at Theatre; this partnership lasted until 2021. As of 2022, Horrocks has been single and living independently in , expressing a preference for and in her . Horrocks and Vivian share two children: son Dylan Vivian, born on April 28, 1997, and daughter Molly Vivian, born on March 21, 1999. Dylan resides in Richmond and works as a businessman, while Molly lives in and performs as a in the band . She maintains close ties with her children, who have supported her through life transitions, including the recent loss of her mother. Born to Barbara Horrocks, a hospital worker who passed away in 2021, and John Horrocks, a sales representative who died in 2012, Horrocks grew up with two older brothers in , . Her family background has influenced her reflections on independence and resilience, particularly in navigating personal challenges like obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Health and residence

Jane Horrocks resides in , , where she owns a Regency flat overlooking the sea. She has expressed that her happiest moments are spent sitting on the beach in the town, reflecting her preference for a quiet, seaside after years in the public eye. Since May 2022, Horrocks has lived alone in following the end of her 21-year relationship with the father of her two children. In terms of her health, Horrocks experienced a significant in December 2023 when she fell off her in after hitting a patch of , resulting in a broken and bruised that required hospital treatment. She recovered without long-term complications and used the incident to warn others about the dangers of icy roads during winter. Horrocks has also discussed the emotional impact of her family's health struggles. Her father died in 2012. Her mother, who had been living with since at least 2020 and no longer recognized her by then, died in 2021, leaving Horrocks feeling "orphaned."

Filmography

Feature films

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990The WitchesMiss Irvine
1990Life Is SweetNicola
1994Deadly AdviceJodie Greenwood
1998Little VoiceLV (Little Voice)
1998Bring Me the Head of Mavis DavisMarla Dorland / Mavis Davis
1999FaeriesHuccabyVoice
2000BabsVoice
2000Born RomanticMo
2000Lion of Oz and the Badge of CourageWimzikVoice
2001Christmas Carol: The MovieVoice
2002 in Hooves of Fire and the Legend of the Lost TribeEmVoice
2005Black Widow Spider / Mrs. PlumVoice
2005Roberta Howe
2006: A Tail of Two KittiesMeenieVoice
2008Fairy MaryVoice
2009 and the Lost TreasureFairy MaryVoice
2011Lead ElfVoice
2012Fairy MaryVoice
2013Sunshine on LeithJean
2016: The MovieBubble
2018Heather Scott
2023: Dawn of the NuggetBabsVoice
2025Grow!Lady Veronica Smythe-Gherkin
This table lists Jane Horrocks' appearances, compiled from her .

Television

Jane Horrocks began her television career in the late with supporting roles in British dramas and comedies, quickly establishing herself as a versatile performer capable of blending humor with . Her early appearances included the role of Christine Bracken in the period drama The Fifteen Streets (1989), adapted from Catherine Cookson's , where she portrayed a young woman navigating class divides in industrial . She followed this with episodic parts, such as Trisha Downey in the crime series Boon (1990) and Nirvanah Crane in the sci-fi comedy (1992), demonstrating her range in genre work. Horrocks achieved international recognition with her breakout role as Bubble, the scatterbrained , in the BBC sitcom (1992–2012), created by . The character, known for her malapropisms and exaggerated accent, became a , contributing to the series' BAFTA wins and enduring popularity as a on and excess. Horrocks also portrayed Bubble's , Katy Grin, in later episodes and specials. In her special Never Mind the Horrocks (1994), she showcased her improvisational talents through various impersonations and monologues, earning praise for her vocal mimicry. Transitioning to drama, Horrocks starred as Angela Quinn in the acclaimed anthology series The Street (2006), written by , playing a mother whose life unravels amid an extramarital affair. That same year, she led the political miniseries as Ros Pritchard, a deputy manager who rises to become , blending everyday realism with idealistic in a role that highlighted her ability to convey quiet determination. Her performance as the iconic entertainer in the biographical TV Gracie! (2009) further demonstrated her singing and dramatic skills, capturing the Rochdale-born star's wartime spirit and vocal prowess. In more recent years, Horrocks has balanced and voice work on television. She played the eccentric Wendy in the Bloods (2021–2022), partnering with in a series about London's ambulance services that drew on her comedic timing for humorous call-outs. Guest spots include Tanya Bleat in Flack (2019), a PR crisis dramedy, and Ethel Ticehurst in the family Here We Go (2020–present). Horrocks has also lent her distinctive voice to animated TV series, such as Gran Spud in (2015–2019) and various characters in Little Princess (2007–present), often emphasizing quirky, maternal figures. These roles underscore her ongoing impact in British television, where she continues to favor character-driven narratives over mainstream blockbusters.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1989The Fifteen StreetsChristine BrackenTV movie; adaptation
1992–2012Bubble / Katy GrinBBC sitcom; 39 episodes + specials
1994Never Mind the HorrocksVariousSketch comedy special,
1999The Flint Street NativityShepherdITV Christmas special
1999Hunting VenusTV movie
2006The StreetAngela QuinnEpisode: "Angela"; drama
2006Ros PritchardBBC miniseries; 6 episodes
2009Gracie!BBC TV film
2019FlackTanya BleatGuest role; Season 2
2020–Here We GoEthel TicehurstBBC comedy series
2021–2022Wendy sitcom; 12 episodes
2023Victoria Dalton6 episodes

Audio and voice projects

Jane Horrocks has contributed to various audio projects, including radio dramas, audiobooks, and work for commercials and documentaries. Her distinctive voice, often characterized by its versatility and expressiveness, has been featured in productions and narrated adaptations. These endeavors highlight her range beyond screen and stage roles, encompassing comedic sketches, dramatic readings, and promotional narrations. In radio, Horrocks portrayed Fenchurch in the adaptations of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, including the Quandary Phase (2005), Quintessential Phase (2005), and Hexagonal Phase (2018). She also starred as Maureen in the comedy series Plum House across three seasons (2016–2020) and a 2014 pilot, depicting the chaotic staff at a historic English house. Other notable radio appearances include the role of Grandma Maggs in The Allotment (2017) and Queen Anne in the historical Shakespeare's Fire (2015). Additionally, she featured in Love Pants: Ian Dury & Jane Horrocks, a 2023 on 4 exploring the musician's relationship through her entries. For audiobooks, Horrocks has narrated dramatized versions of classic children's stories, such as A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh (2005), The House at Pooh Corner (2005), and related tales like Tigger Comes to the Forest and Piglet Meets a Heffalump. Her readings extend to Aesop: The Complete Collection (2012) and collections of nursery rhymes, emphasizing engaging storytelling for young audiences. Horrocks has provided voice-overs for commercials, most prominently in a decade-long campaign for Tesco supermarkets (2001–2011), where she appeared alongside Prunella Scales as a mother-daughter duo. Other voice work includes radio advertisements for Marie Curie (2010) and narrations for products like Border Biscuits, as showcased in her commercial reel. She also contributed to documentary audio, such as Britain as Seen on TV.

Awards and nominations

Theatre accolades

Horrocks received significant recognition for her stage performances, particularly in the early 1990s and later in . Her breakthrough came with the title role of Little Voice in Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which premiered at the National Theatre's Cottesloe auditorium in 1992 before transferring to the . For this portrayal of a shy young woman with an extraordinary vocal talent for impersonations, she earned a nomination for the Award for Best Actress in 1993. The production itself garnered acclaim, winning the Olivier for Best New Comedy, though the acting award went to co-star . Later in her career, Horrocks transitioned successfully to musical roles, showcasing her versatility in lighter fare. In 2009, she starred as in a revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun at the , directed by Nikolai Foster. Her energetic and comedic depiction of the sharp-shooting markswoman led to a win for the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2010, voted by public ballot with over 46,000 participants. This accolade highlighted her ability to blend vocal prowess with , drawing comparisons to her earlier impressionistic work. Throughout her theatre career, Horrocks has been nominated for prestigious honors that underscore her impact on British stage, though wins have been selective. These recognitions reflect her distinctive voice and character-driven performances, often in roles that demand both vulnerability and bravado.

Screen and other honours

Horrocks earned critical acclaim for her supporting role as Natalia in Mike Leigh's Life Is Sweet (1990), winning the Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991. She also received the Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same performance in 1992. Her portrayal of the reclusive singer LV in Little Voice (1998) brought widespread recognition, earning her a for in a Leading Role at the in 1999. The role also garnered a Golden Globe for in a Motion Picture – Musical or at the 56th ceremony in 1999. Additional nominations for Little Voice included the Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in 1999, the British Award for in 1999, and the Satellite Award for in a Motion Picture – or Musical in 1999. On television, Horrocks was nominated for Best Female TV Comic at the British Comedy Awards in 1996 for Never Mind the Horrocks. Beyond screen accolades, Horrocks has received several honorary degrees in recognition of her contributions to . In 2008, she was awarded a (DLitt) honoris causa by . She received an honorary from in 2015. Additionally, the University of Central Lancashire bestowed an honorary doctorate upon her for her services to drama.

References

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