Tamsin Greig

Tamsin Margaret Mary Greig (; born 12 July 1966) is a British actress. She is known for both dramatic and comedic roles. She played Fran Katzenjammer in the Channel 4 sitcom Black Books, Dr Caroline Todd in the Channel 4 sitcom Green Wing, Beverly Lincoln in British–American sitcom Episodes and Jackie Goodman in the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner. Other roles include Alice Chenery in BBC One's comedy-drama series Love Soup, Debbie Aldridge in BBC Radio 4's soap opera The Archers, Miss Bates in the 2009 BBC version of Jane Austen's Emma, and Beth Hardiment in the 2010 film version of Tamara Drewe. In 2020, Greig starred as Anne Trenchard in Julian Fellowes' ITV series Belgravia. Greig is also a stage actress: she won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in 2007 for Much Ado About Nothing, and was nominated in 2011 and 2015 for her roles in The Little Dog Laughed and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

Infobox

Born

Tamsin Margaret Mary Greig (1966-07-12) 12 July 1966 (age 59)Maidstone, Kent, England

Alma mater

University of Birmingham (BA)

Occupation

Actress

Years active

1990–present

Spouse

mw- Richard Leaf (m. 1997)

Tables

· Acting credits › Film

1997

So This is Romance?

Role(s)

Carmen

2002

Miranda

Role(s)

Receptionist

Pure

Role(s)

Liaison Officer

2004

Shaun of the Dead

Role(s)

Maggie

2008

Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth

Role(s)

Jenny

2009

Cuckoo

Role(s)

Simon

2010

Tamara Drewe

Role(s)

Beth Hardiment

2014

Breaking the Bank

Role(s)

Penelope

2015

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Role(s)

Lavinia Beech

2019

Official Secrets

Role(s)

Elizabeth Wilmshurst

2020

Days of the Bagnold Summer

Role(s)

Astrid

2023

My Happy Ending

Role(s)

Nancy

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	So This is Romance?	Carmen
2002	Miranda	Receptionist
2002	Pure	Liaison Officer
2004	Shaun of the Dead	Maggie
2008	Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth	Jenny
2009	Cuckoo	Simon
2010	Tamara Drewe	Beth Hardiment
2014	Breaking the Bank	Penelope
2015	The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel	Lavinia Beech
2019	Official Secrets	Elizabeth Wilmshurst
2020	Days of the Bagnold Summer	Astrid
2023	My Happy Ending	Nancy

· Acting credits › Television

1994

Blue Heaven

Role(s)

Prof. Wiseman

Notes

1 episode

1996

Neverwhere

Role(s)

Lamia

Notes

3 episodes

Faith in the Future

Role(s)

Emma

Notes

Episode: "Marks Out of Ten"

1997

Wycliffe

Role(s)

Dr. Hinkley

Notes

Episode: "Seen a Ghost"

1997–1998

Role(s)

Blind Men

Notes

Valerie Marsden

1998

The Great Egyptians

Role(s)

Cleopatra

Notes

TV Miniseries documentary

1999–2001

Role(s)

People Like Us

Notes

Jenny, Sarah

2000–2004

Role(s)

Black Books

Notes

Fran

2001

High Stakes

Role(s)

Delphina

Notes

Episode: "Soul Mates"

Happiness

Role(s)

Emma

Notes

3 episodes

World of Pub

Role(s)

Julia Robbins

Notes

Episode: "Bookshop"

2002

Falling Apart

Role(s)

Jackie

Notes

TV movie

2003

Jonathan Creek

Role(s)

Pam

Notes

Episode: "Angel Hair"

Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill

Role(s)

Liane

Notes

TV movie

2004

The Lenny Henry Show

Role(s)

various

Notes

1 episode

When I'm 64

Role(s)

Denny

Notes

TV movies

2004–2006

Role(s)

Green Wing

Notes

Dr Caroline Todd

2005

Doctor Who

Role(s)

Nurse

Notes

Episode: "The Long Game"

2005–2008

Role(s)

Love Soup

Notes

Alice Chenery

2009

The Diary of Anne Frank

Role(s)

Edith Frank

Notes

Miniseries

Emma

Role(s)

Miss Bates

Notes

TV serial

2010

Masterpiece Classic

Role(s)

Edith Frank

Notes

1 episode

Terry Pratchett's Going Postal

Role(s)

Miss Cripslock

Notes

TV miniseries

2011

White Heat

Role(s)

Beth Pew

Notes

TV miniseries, 6 episodes

2011–2017

Role(s)

Episodes

Notes

Beverly Lincoln

2011–2020

Role(s)

Friday Night Dinner

Notes

Jackie Goodman

2013

The Guilty

Role(s)

DCI Maggie Brand

2014

Inside No. 9

Role(s)

Sally

Notes

Episode: "Last Gasp"

2015

Royal Cousins at War

Role(s)

Narrator

Notes

2 episodes

Crackanory

Role(s)

Storyteller

Notes

Episode: "Bob's House"

2016

Behold the Monkey

Role(s)

Narrator

Notes

TV film

Revolting Rhymes

Role(s)

Babysitter/Miss Maclahose/Grandma (voice)

2017

Diana and I

Role(s)

Mary McDonald

2018

To Provide All People

Role(s)

2018–2021

Role(s)

The Secret Life of the Zoo

Notes

Narrator

2019

Elementary

Role(s)

DCI Athelney Jones

Notes

1 episode

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Role(s)

Mummy (voice)

Notes

TV short

Bing

Role(s)

Dr. Molly (voice)

Notes

Series 2

2020

Belgravia

Role(s)

Anne Trenchard

Notes

Lead Role – TV Series

Talking Heads

Role(s)

Rosemary Horrocks

Notes

Episode: "Nights in the Gardens of Spain"

2020–present

Role(s)

Love Monster

Notes

Narrator

2021

Romeo and Juliet

Role(s)

Lady Capulet

Notes

Television film

Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and A Lovely Bit of Squirrel

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

TV documentary

The Amazing Mr Blunden

Role(s)

Mrs Wickens

Notes

Television film

2024

Sexy Beast

Role(s)

Cecilia

Notes

Main cast

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin

Role(s)

Helen Gwinear

Notes

2 episodes

Suspect

Role(s)

Natasha Groves

Notes

8 episodes

2025

Riot Women

Role(s)

Holly

Notes

Main cast

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Blue Heaven	Prof. Wiseman	1 episode
1996	Neverwhere	Lamia	3 episodes
1996	Faith in the Future	Emma	Episode: "Marks Out of Ten"
1997	Wycliffe	Dr. Hinkley	Episode: "Seen a Ghost"
1997–1998	Blind Men	Valerie Marsden	6 episodes
1998	The Great Egyptians	Cleopatra	TV Miniseries documentary
1999–2001	People Like Us	Jenny, Sarah	2 episodes
2000–2004	Black Books	Fran	Main Role
2001	High Stakes	Delphina	Episode: "Soul Mates"
	Happiness	Emma	3 episodes
	World of Pub	Julia Robbins	Episode: "Bookshop"
2002	Falling Apart	Jackie	TV movie
2003	Jonathan Creek	Pam	Episode: "Angel Hair"
2003	Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill	Liane	TV movie
2004	The Lenny Henry Show	various	1 episode
2004	When I'm 64	Denny	TV movies
2004–2006	Green Wing	Dr Caroline Todd	Main role
2005	Doctor Who	Nurse	Episode: "The Long Game"
2005–2008	Love Soup	Alice Chenery	Main role
2009	The Diary of Anne Frank	Edith Frank	Miniseries
2009	Emma	Miss Bates	TV serial
2010	Masterpiece Classic	Edith Frank	1 episode
2010	Terry Pratchett's Going Postal	Miss Cripslock	TV miniseries
2011	White Heat	Beth Pew	TV miniseries, 6 episodes
2011–2017	Episodes	Beverly Lincoln	Main role
2011–2020	Friday Night Dinner	Jackie Goodman
2013	The Guilty	DCI Maggie Brand
2014	Inside No. 9	Sally	Episode: "Last Gasp"
2015	Royal Cousins at War	Narrator	2 episodes
2015	Crackanory	Storyteller	Episode: "Bob's House"
2016	Behold the Monkey	Narrator	TV film
2016	Revolting Rhymes	Babysitter/Miss Maclahose/Grandma (voice)
2017	Diana and I	Mary McDonald
2018	To Provide All People	GP
2018–2021	The Secret Life of the Zoo	Narrator	Series 6–10
2019	Elementary	DCI Athelney Jones	1 episode
	The Tiger Who Came to Tea	Mummy (voice)	TV short
	Bing	Dr. Molly (voice)	Series 2
2020	Belgravia	Anne Trenchard	Lead Role – TV Series
2020	Talking Heads	Rosemary Horrocks	Episode: "Nights in the Gardens of Spain"
2020–present	Love Monster	Narrator	54 episodes
2021	Romeo and Juliet	Lady Capulet	Television film
	Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and A Lovely Bit of Squirrel	Herself	TV documentary
	The Amazing Mr Blunden	Mrs Wickens	Television film
2024	Sexy Beast	Cecilia	Main cast
	The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin	Helen Gwinear	2 episodes
	Suspect	Natasha Groves	8 episodes
2025	Riot Women	Holly	Main cast

· Acting credits › Theatre

2006

King John

Role(s)

Constance

Notes

Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

2006–2007

Role(s)

Much Ado About Nothing

Notes

Beatrice

2008

God Of Carnage

Role(s)

Anette

Notes

Gielgud Theatre, West End

Gethsemane

Role(s)

Meredith

Notes

National Theatre, London

2010

The Little Dog Laughed

Role(s)

Diane

Notes

Garrick Theatre, West End

2011

Jumpy

Role(s)

Hilary

Notes

Royal Court Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre

2013

Longing

Role(s)

Varia

Notes

Hampstead Theatre

2015

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Role(s)

Pepa Marcos

Notes

Playhouse Theatre, West End

2016

The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures

Role(s)

Empty

Notes

Hampstead Theatre

2017

Twelfth Night

Role(s)

Malvolia

Notes

National Theatre, London

Labour of Love

Role(s)

Jean Whittaker

Notes

Noël Coward Theatre, West End

2018

Pinter 3: Landscape/A Kind of Alaska

Role(s)

Beth/Deborah

Notes

Harold Pinter Theatre, West End

2020

Talking Heads Live: Nights in the Garden of Spain

Role(s)

Rosemary

Notes

Bridge Theatre

2021

Peggy For You

Role(s)

Peggy Ramsay

Notes

Hampstead Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2006	King John	Constance	Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
2006–2007	Much Ado About Nothing	Beatrice	Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
2008	God Of Carnage	Anette	Gielgud Theatre, West End
2008	Gethsemane	Meredith	National Theatre, London
2010	The Little Dog Laughed	Diane	Garrick Theatre, West End
2011	Jumpy	Hilary	Royal Court Theatre, Duke of York's Theatre
2013	Longing	Varia	Hampstead Theatre
2015	Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown	Pepa Marcos	Playhouse Theatre, West End
2016	The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures	Empty	Hampstead Theatre
2017	Twelfth Night	Malvolia	National Theatre, London
2017	Labour of Love	Jean Whittaker	Noël Coward Theatre, West End
2018	Pinter 3: Landscape/A Kind of Alaska	Beth/Deborah	Harold Pinter Theatre, West End
2020	Talking Heads Live: Nights in the Garden of Spain	Rosemary	Bridge Theatre
2021	Peggy For You	Peggy Ramsay	Hampstead Theatre

· Acting credits › Audio

2012

The Minister of Chance

Role(s)

The Sage of the Waves

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2012	The Minister of Chance	The Sage of the Waves

· Awards and nominations

2005

British Comedy Awards

Role(s)

Best TV Comedy Actress

Notes

Green Wing, Love Soup

Royal Television Society Awards

Role(s)

Best Comedy Performance

Notes

Green Wing

British Academy Television Awards

Role(s)

Best Comedy Performance

Notes

Nominated

2006

British Comedy Awards

Role(s)

Best TV Comedy Actress

Notes

Nominated

Critics' Circle Theatre Awards

Role(s)

Best Shakespearean Performance

Notes

Much Ado About Nothing

2007

Olivier Awards

Role(s)

Best Actress

Notes

Won

2008

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Role(s)

Golden Nymph – Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Notes

Love Soup

2010

British Independent Film Awards

Role(s)

Best Supporting Actress

Notes

Tamara Drewe

2011

Olivier Awards

Role(s)

Best Actress

Notes

The Little Dog Laughed

WhatsOnStage Awards

Role(s)

Best Supporting Actress

Notes

Won

British Comedy Awards

Role(s)

Best TV Comedy Actress

Notes

Friday Night Dinner

2012

British Academy Television Awards

Role(s)

Best Female Comedy Performance

Notes

Nominated

2015

Episodes

Role(s)

Nominated

Olivier Awards

Role(s)

Best Actress

Notes

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2005	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Actress	Green Wing, Love Soup	Nominated
	Royal Television Society Awards	Best Comedy Performance	Green Wing	Won
	British Academy Television Awards	Best Comedy Performance		Nominated
2006	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Actress		Nominated
2006	Critics' Circle Theatre Awards	Best Shakespearean Performance	Much Ado About Nothing	Won
2007	Olivier Awards	Best Actress	Much Ado About Nothing	Won
2008	Monte-Carlo Television Festival	Golden Nymph – Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series	Love Soup	Nominated
2010	British Independent Film Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Tamara Drewe	Nominated
2011	Olivier Awards	Best Actress	The Little Dog Laughed	Nominated
	WhatsOnStage Awards	Best Supporting Actress	The Little Dog Laughed	Won
	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Actress	Friday Night Dinner	Nominated
2012	British Academy Television Awards	Best Female Comedy Performance	Friday Night Dinner	Nominated
2015	British Academy Television Awards	Best Female Comedy Performance	Episodes	Nominated
2015	Olivier Awards	Best Actress	Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown	Nominated

References

"Tamsin Margaret M Greig"
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVWQ-L3ZW
"findmypast.co.uk"
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=tamsin&lastname=greig
"Leading light"
https://www.thetimes.com/article/leading-light-7w6lc02n072
"Tamsin Greig: 'I'm 51, but I feel like an idiot teenager'"
https://www.thetimes.com/article/tamsin-greig-im-51-but-i-feel-like-an-idiot-teenager-2d8dnlnlh
The Independent on Sunday
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/intriguing-isnt-it-tamsin-greig-mulls-over-lifes-mysteries-8026622.html
"Crowded flats (Sunday Times)"
https://web.archive.org/web/20150225122318/http://bryanappleyard.com/tamsin-greig-crowded-flats/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/aug/14/freshers.students
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-the-actress-tamsin-greig-1231008.html
Seriously funny, an interview with The Telegraph with Tamsin Greig. Written by Jasper Rees, 29 July 2006. Retrieved 17 J
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3654126/Seriously-funny.html
The Archers
https://web.archive.org/web/20101127043612/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/the-archers/whos-who/characters/debbie-aldridge
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/mar/03/tamsin-greig-interview
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p6dcx
www.bbc.co.uk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00748dr
'Cooking The Books', Black Books episode 1, series 1
RTS Winners and Nominations list 2005 Archived 22 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 17 June 2007.
http://www.rts.org.uk/awards.asp?sec_id=725&from=section
Woman's Hour Interview with Tamsin Greig in February 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2007
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_39_wed_02.shtml
"Anne Frank TV drama heads to BBC"
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7045585.stm
British Comedy Guide
https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/terry_pratchett_going_postal/characters/
"Showtime Plans a Trio of Premieres for January"
https://web.archive.org/web/20101030061325/http://www.thewrap.com/node/21112
"The Guilty"
https://web.archive.org/web/20140512231131/https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/the-guilty/series-1/episode-1
"Episodes – Official Series Site – SHOWTIME"
http://www.sho.com/sho/episodes/home
BBC News (18 February 2007) "Sondheim show wins theatre awards". Retrieved 18 February 2007
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6373839.stm
"Spamalot actress attacks Olivier awards snub" Archived 26 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine 19 February 2007, This Is Lon
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre/article-23386047-details/Spamalot+actress+attacks+Olivier+awards+snub/article.do
"Sondheim show wins theatre awards"
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6373839.stm
"IN DEPTH: Tamsin Greig talks to us" Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine 26 February 2009, Maidenhead Advertise
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/leisure/article-10002-in-depth-tamsin-greig-talks-to-us/
Critics Circle Awards for 2006 Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Albemarle of London. Retrieved 17 June
http://www.albemarle-london.com/awards/AwardWinners.php?Award_Type=Critics%20Circle%20Awards&Year=2006
"WOS Theatregoers' Choice Nominees Announced"
https://web.archive.org/web/20071209182214/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821196963180&title=WOS+Theatregoers%27+Choice+Nominees+Announced
"Full List: Your Theatregoers' Choice Award Winners"
http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821203624757&title=Full+List%3A+Your+Theatregoers%92+Choice+Award+Winners
The Times
https://web.archive.org/web/20110517090114/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article3575819.ece
"Greig, McTeer & Stott Join Fiennes God of Carnage"
https://web.archive.org/web/20071225131445/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821198247213&title=Greig%2C+McTeer+%26+Stott+Join+Fiennes+God+of+Carnage
"2009 Laurence Olivier Awards Winners"
https://web.archive.org/web/20090312001858/http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards/2009winners/
"Hare Gethsemane Debuts With Greig at NT, 11 Nov"
https://archive.today/20120917160925/http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8821219060712/Hare+Gethsemane+Debuts+With+Greig+at+NT,+11+Nov.html
"Full List 2011 Whatsonstage.com Award Winners"
https://web.archive.org/web/20121104082149/http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831298005472/Full+List%3A+2011+Whatsonstage.com+Award+Winners.html
"Full List of 2011 Award Nominees"
https://archive.today/20110714235353/http://www.olivierawards.com/nominations/view/item114038/Best-Actress/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/8836928/Jumpy-Royal-Court-review.html
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/11/tamsin-greig-malvolia-equality-theatre-gender-blind-casting
The Stage
https://web.archive.org/web/20171004054903/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2017/labour-love-review-noel-coward-theatre-london/
"Star on Yarmouth movie set"
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED11%20Dec%202007%2021%3A37%3A27%3A343
London Evening Standard
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/tamsin-greig-welcomes-in-the-summer-7827690.html
"Tamsin Greig on Friday Night Dinner series two, going grey and growing up"
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-10-07/tamsin-greig-on-friday-night-dinner-series-two-going-grey-and-growing-up
The Times
https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/tamsin-greig-im-51-but-i-feel-like-an-idiot-teenager-2d8dnlnlh
Harrow Times
http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1800578.0.rally_backs_health_service.php
"RSC Stands Up For Shakespeare"
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/display/cm/contentId/98323
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text
Express.co.uk
https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1131692/Elementary-season-7-cast-Sherlock-Holmes-series-CBS-who-is-in-the-cast
bbc.com/mediacentre
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/riot-women-casting-announcement