Sue Johnston

Sue Johnston is an English actress known for her work in British soap opera, comedy and drama. Born in Warrington and raised in Prescot, she trained at London's Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. After beginning her career on stage in 1965, she made her television debut in Coronation Street, then played Sheila Grant in Brookside from 1982 to 1990. She later became known as Barbara Royle in The Royle Family from 1998 to 2012, winning the British Comedy Award for best television comedy actress and receiving a British Academy Television Award nomination for comedy performance in 2000. From 2000 to 2011 she played Grace Foley in Waking the Dead. Her film credits include Brassed Off (1996) and Help (2021). She also played Gloria in Coronation Street and Miss Denker in Downton Abbey, and in 2025 was nominated for a British Academy Television Award as best supporting actress for Truelove.