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.
Acted in 66
2020s
- 2027
The Broken Arrow
Mrs. Barnes
- 2026
- 2025
Stuffed
Lily
Dexter Procter
Granny Bet · 1 episode
Big Winners
Edith Thistle
Play for Today
Edith Thistle · 1 episode
- 2024
Generation Z
Cecily · 6 episodes
Truelove
Marion · 6 episodes
- 2023
Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Family
Barbara Royle (archive footage)
- 2022
- 2021
2010s
- 2019
The Cure
Bella Bailey
The Cockfields
Sue · 9 episodes
- 2018
Death on the Tyne
Colleen
Age Before Beauty
Ivy-Rae Regan · 6 episodes
Walk Like a Panther
Gladys
- 2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
Barbara Royle (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rovers
Doreen · 6 episodes
- 2013
Being Eileen
Eileen Lewis · 6 episodes
- 2012
The Royle Family: Barbara's Old Ring
Barbara Royle
Gates
Miss Hunter · 5 episodes
- 2011
Sugartown
TV
- 2010
The Royle Family: Joe's Crackers
Barbara
A Passionate Woman
Betty (1980s) · 2 episodes
2000s
- 2009
The Golden Egg Cup
Barbara Royle
- 2008
The Royle Family: The New Sofa
Barbara Royle
- 2006
- 2004
- 2002
- 2001
New Year's Day
Mrs. Fisher
My Uncle Silas
Mrs Betts · 12 episodes
1990s
- 1999
Finest Hour
Commentary · 4 episodes
Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
Irma · 6 episodes
- 1998
The Royle Family
Barbara Royle · 20 episodes
The Things You Do for Love: Against the Odds
Pat Phoenix
Duck Patrol
Val Rutland · 7 episodes
- 1997
Brookside: The Lost Weekend
Sheila Grant
Face
Alice
Crime Traveller
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Grisham · 8 episodes
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
Measure for Measure
Mistress Overdone
- 1992
Goodbye Cruel World
Barbara Grade · 3 episodes
- 1991
- 1990
Medics
TV
Appearances27
2020s
- 2024
Ricky, Sue & a Trip or Two
Herself · 3 episodes
The Big Snow of '47
Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2023
Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy
Self
The Royle Family - Down the Back of the Sofa
Self / Barbara Royle (archive footage)
- 2021
Robbo: The Bryan Robson Story
Self
Kensington Palace: Behind Closed Doors
Narrator · 2 episodes
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
Diana and the Paparazzi
Narrator (voice)
Shannon Matthews: The Mother's Story
Narrator
Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule
Self · 1 episode
Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next
Self - Narrator
- 2016
World Cup 1966: Alfie's Boys
Self
- 2015
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
Self
- 2011
- 2010
The Royle Family: Behind the Sofa
Self
2000s
- 2009
Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It
Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2007
- 2005
Liverpool FC: One Night in May
Self
- 2004
- 2002
The Virgin Mary
Self - Presenter
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Self
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
1950s
- 1952
