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Jo Hartley

Jo Hartley

Actor · Born March 12, 1972 (54) · Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK

Jo Hartley is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the films Dead Man's Shoes (2004), This Is England (2006), The Young Victoria (2009), Torvill & Dean (2018), Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018), Eddie the Eagle (2016), Sweetheart (2021), and Bank of Dave (2023). Television credits include This Is England '86 (2010), Not Safe For Work (2015), In My Skin (2018), After Life (2019-2022), Mandy (2021), Das Boot (2022), Death In Paradise (2023), Passenger (2024), and Adolescence (2025). Hartley was born in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, and brought up in a working-class family, attending North Chadderton School in Chadderton, in Oldham. She started acting at the age of 11 in her school production of The Sound of Music as Gretel Von Trappe. She joined Oldham Theatre Workshop, developing her acting skills until the age of 17, when she stopped acting to work at British Aerospace on a Youth Training Scheme. She worked as a secretary there for two years before leaving to join Japan Airlines as a flight attendant. Hartley had her debut film role in the 2004 Shane Meadows directed Crime Drama Thriller film Dead Man's Shoes as 'Marie'. She went on to appear in many British productions, including films such as Northern Soul and Me and Her both in 2004; Terra Firma and Flushed in 2008; and The Crossing, Janet and Bernard and I Don't Care in 2014. Hartley has been a character actor in many TV films and TV series since 2004, with her most notable roles in This Is England '86, This Is England '88 and This Is England '90, the follow-on TV mini-series to the film. In movies Hartley has appeared in This Is England (2006) as Cynthia, and the feature film The Young Victoria in 2009, with Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend. In 2016 Hartley appeared as Janette, Eddie's mother in the film Eddie the Eagle appearing alongside Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman. She co-starred in the David Cross series Bliss opposite Heather Graham as one of two partners of a fraudulent travel writer. Hartley also appeared in the comedy horror film Slaughterhouse Rulez, alongside Asa Butterfield and Simon Pegg. After a successful pilot episode, Hartley played the role of Bethan's mum, Katrina, who suffers from bipolar disorder in the BBC series In My Skin which aired on BBC1 in 2020. In April 2020, Hartley returned as June in the second series of Ricky Gervais's After Life. In January 2021, Hartley joined the Rising Star Award jury of the EE British Academy Film Awards to select the shortlist for the 2021 award, alongside Alicia Vikander, Naomi Ackie and several other prominent figures of the industry. In November 2021, Hartley was nominated for the BIFA for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Tina in the Marley Morrison directed British drama film Sweetheart. In December 2021, Hartley had a guest-role appearance in the BBC's Mandy Christmas special—We Wish You A Mandy Christmas alongside Diane Morgan and Johnny Vegas. In 2022, Hartley landed a recurring role in four episodes of series 3, of the Sky One German U-boat series Das Boot, alongside Tom Wlaschiha. In 2023, Hartley starred as 'Nicola', wife of Burnley banker Dave Fishwick (played by Rory Kinnear) in the film Bank of Dave, released on Netflix in January 2023. In April 2024, Hartley played the lead character in the British comedy film Swede Caroline.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 12, 1972 (54)
From
Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 17% in 30 days

What are Jo Hartley's films like?

Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
27%
Self
25%
Society
17%
Bonds
14%
Morality
10%
Power
7%
Coming of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 6
Herald
1 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Absurd
6
Melancholic
7
Dread
5
Warm
7
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jo Hartley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jo Hartley's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page.

  • Alley Cats(2026)

    Show 6 episodes · as Kitten (voice)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • A Loud Piece of Armour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Holly

  • Adolescence(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Fenumore

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger(2025)

    as Nicola Fishwick

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Swede Caroline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Caroline

  • Passenger(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Linda Markel

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • If You're Happy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as The Teacher

  • Bank of Dave(2023)

    as Nicola Fishwick

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • We Wish You a Mandy Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Mandy's Mum

  • Sweetheart(2021)

    as Tina

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Cleaner(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Mandy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Heather Seller

  • After Life(2019)

    Show 18 episodes · as June

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Torvill & Dean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Betty Torvill

  • Slaughterhouse Rulez(2018)

    as Babs Wallace

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • In My Skin(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Katrina Gwyndaf

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Sick of It(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Lillie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Bliss(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Denise

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Access All Areas(2017)

    as Libby

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Prevenge(2016)

    as Midwife

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • David Brent: Life on the Road(2016)

    as Pauline Gray

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Eddie the Eagle(2015)

    as Janette

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • This Is England '90 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Cynth

  • Not Safe for Work(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Angela

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Mimic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 11 episodes · as Jean

  • Up There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Margaret

  • Postcode Lottery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Mandy Slade

  • Ill Manors(2012)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • When the Lights Went Out(2012)

    as Jeanette

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • This Is England '88 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Cynth

  • Death in Paradise(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Raya West

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Inbred(2011)

    as Kate

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Stolen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as April Harris

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • This Is England '86(2010)

    Show 4 episodes · as Cynth

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • SoulBoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Monica

  • Pulse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Loz Westmoor

  • Crying with Laughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Karen

  • Moving On(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Natalie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Young Victoria(2009)

    as Landlady

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • This Is England (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Cynth

  • Recovery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Vicky Nathan

  • Me and Her (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Waterloo Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Taylor

  • Northern Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jo Sherbert

  • Dead Man's Shoes(2004)

    as Marie

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Coming Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mandy Slate

  • The Jury(2002)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ann Skailes

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles from 2002 to 2026; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Eddie the Eagle (2015)

$46M worldwide

Highest rated

This Is England '86 (2010)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Alley Cats (2026)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
20022026

Peak 2017 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2004Screen debut· Dead Man's Shoes
  • 2007Breakout· This Is England
  • 2011First top-billed film· Inbred
  • 2019Career best· After Life

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 48: 47 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thProducing1 of 48: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

2000s11 · acting2010s25 · acting2020s12 · 12 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 7% of 14 roles
0414

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jo Hartley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 13; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Access All Areas (2017)

87th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

After Life (2019)

Midcredits 97th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 51. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jo Hartley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles14–89 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles31–75 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles34–92 · median 77 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles28–41 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles28–98 · median 80 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jo Hartley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jo Hartley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ricky Gervais shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers