Biography
Katherine Parkinson (born March 9, 1978) is an English actress. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd as Jen Barber, for which she received a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014, and was nominated twice for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, winning in 2014. Parkinson studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and has appeared on stage in the plays The Seagull (2007), Cock (2009), and Home, I'm Darling (2018), for which she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play. Parkinson was also a main cast member of the series Doc Martin for three series (2005–2009). She co-starred in all three series of Humans, a science-fiction drama on AMC/Channel 4, which aired from 2015 until 2018. She has also appeared in the films The Boat That Rocked (2009) and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018).
Acted in 50
2020s
- 2026
Mog's Bad Thing
Mrs. Ramsbottom (voice)
- 2025
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
Rachel Jessop
Dating Mark Silcox
Claire
- 2024
- 2023
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
Rachel Jessop
Significant Other
Anna · 6 episodes
- 2022
National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing
Beatrice
Here We Go
Rachel Jessop · 19 episodes
- 2021
Spreadsheet
Lauren · 8 episodes
Sitting
Mary
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break
Clemmie
- 2020
How to Fake a War
Kate
Hitmen
Kat Gaitskill · 5 episodes
2010s
- 2018
Guitar Man
Ms. Elanor
Defending the Guilty
Caroline · 6 episodes
Hang Ups
Karen Muller · 6 episodes
- 2017
- 2015
The Kennedys
Brenda Kennedy · 6 episodes
- 2014
Off the Page: Britain Isn't Eating
Marion/Sarah
In the Club
Kim · 12 episodes
Sardines
Rebecca
- 2012
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff
Conceptiva · 3 episodes
- 2010
Whites
Caroline · 6 episodes
The Great Outdoors
Sophie · 3 episodes
Cooked
(voice)
2000s
- 2009
The Old Guys
Amber · 8 episodes
- 2008
- 2007
Christmas at the Riviera
Vanessa
Katy Brand's Big Ass Show
Various · 18 episodes
Fear, Stress & Anger
Gemma · 6 episodes
Hard to Swallow
Katie
- 2006
- 2005
Ahead of the Class
Vicky Foley
- 2004
1980s
- 1986
Wrote 1
2020s
- 2021
Sitting
Writer
Appearances16
2020s
- 2026
Live from the Lycett Arms
Self / Pub Manager · 1 episode
Rivals: The Official Podcast
Self · 1 episode
- 2025
- 2024
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
Self
2010s
- 2015
- 2014
The IT Crowd Manual
Self - Jen Barber
- 2013
Crackanory
Self · 1 episode
2000s
- 2007
- 2006
1960s
- 1964
