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Joanna Scanlan

Joanna Scanlan

Actor, also producer and writer · Born October 27, 1961 (65) · West Kirby, Merseyside, England, UK

BAFTA Award winner · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Joanna Marion Scanlan (born 27 October 1961) is a British actress and writer. On television, she is known for her roles in The Thick of It (2005–2012), Big School (2013–2014), Puppy Love (2014), No Offence (2015–2018), Requiem (2018), and The Larkins (2021). She was nominated for three BAFTA TV Awards for Getting On (2009–2012), including two for Best Writing. Scanlan's film appearances include Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Notes on a Scandal (2006), The Invisible Woman (2013), and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). She won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the 2020 film After Love. She was the first person since 2003 to win the award without being nominated for the corresponding Oscar. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joanna Scanlan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 27, 1961 (65)
From
West Kirby, Merseyside, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
53 on MovieCove · 96 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 47% in 30 days

What are Joanna Scanlan's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Bonds
32%
Self
18%
Society
14%
Morality
12%
Power
10%
Survival
8%
Ideas
6%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 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 8 · Serious 7 · Dark 5

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 6 · Charged 12 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 12
Hero
3 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Mentor
1 of 12
Herald
1 of 12
Shadow
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
15
Warm
10
Contemplative
10
Bittersweet
9
Other
31

How their films linger

Bittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

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 Joanna Scanlan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 53 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joanna Scanlan'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

96 credits, 53 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Party(2026)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sylvia Gilmour

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Missed Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Riot Women(2025)

    Show 6 episodes · as Beth

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy(2025)

    as Cathy

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Rhubarb Rhubarb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Joy(2024)

    as Gladys May

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Killed Without A Trace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · as Presenter

  • A Very Royal Scandal(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Amanda Thirsk

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • The Rising of the Sap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Elizabeth

  • Tabby McTat(2023)

    as Pat (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Wicked Little Letters(2023)

    as Ann

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Boat Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Pat Tooh

  • Secrets of the Aquarium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Narrator

  • This Is Christmas(2022)

    as Linda

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Light in the Hall(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sharon Roberts

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Slow Horses(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Moira Tregorian

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Larkins(2021)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ma Larkin

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Ropey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Don vs Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Maggie

  • After Love(2020)

    as Mary / Fahima

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • How to Build a Girl(2019)

    as Mrs. Belling

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • McDonald & Dodds(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Kelly Mulcreevy

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Avenue 5(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Johanna

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Dracula(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mother Superior

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Accident(2019)

    Show 4 episodes · as Angela Griffiths

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Sally4Ever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Stella

  • Pin Cushion(2017)

    as Lyn

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Woman in White(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Vesey

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Wild Honey Pie!(2018)

    as Janet

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Hold the Sunset(2018)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sandra

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Requiem(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Janice Gray

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • How to Talk to Girls at Parties(2017)

    as Marion, Enn’s Mother

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Electric Dreams(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Su

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Tulip Fever(2017)

    as Mrs. Overvalt

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Hooten & The Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bridget Jones's Baby(2016)

    as Cathy - Make Up Lady

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dylan's Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Penny

  • Fungus the Bogeyman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mildrew

  • Fungus The Bogeyman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Bad Education Movie(2015)

    as Susan Poulter

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • No Offence(2015)

    Show 21 episodes · Associate Producer · as Vivienne Deering

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Testament of Youth(2014)

    as Aunt Belle

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Get Santa(2014)

    as Ruth

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Puppy Love(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · Producer · Writer · as Nana V

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Death Comes to Pemberley(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Invisible Woman(2013)

    as Catherine Dickens

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Getting On(2013)

    Show 18 episodes · Executive Producer · as Sister Den Flixter

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Big School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mrs Klebb

  • Psychobitches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Woodhouse

  • Heading Out(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · as Torla

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Playhouse Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Woodhouse

  • Stella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

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

    as Mary-Ann

  • The Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Sister Kevin

  • Home Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Pitman

  • Getting On(2009)

    Show 15 episodes · Writer · as Sister Den Flixter

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • In the Loop(2009)

    as Roz

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Other Boleyn Girl(2008)

    as Midwife

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Stardust(2007)

    as Mormo

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Spinners and Losers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Terri Coverly

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

    Show 6 episodes · as Nurse

  • Grow Your Own(2007)

    as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

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

    as Jennings

  • The Moon and the Stars(2007)

    as Daisy Burke

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Rise of the Nutters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Terri Coverley

  • Notes on a Scandal(2006)

    as Sue Hodge

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A Little Trip to Heaven(2005)

    as Josie

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Kinky Boots(2005)

    as Trish

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Thick of It(2005)

    Show 21 episodes · as Terri Coverley

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Doctors and Nurses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 4 episodes · as Stumpy Yates

  • Girl with a Pearl Earring(2003)

    as Tanneke

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Deal(2003)

    as Sue Nye

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Little Britain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Lou's Girlfriend Anya

  • Murder in Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Diana Spearman

  • Terri McIntyre - Classy Bitch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 14 episodes · Actor

  • Fun at the Funeral Parlour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Human Remains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Nana

  • My Family(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dental Assistant

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Announcement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Debbie

  • Cry Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie

  • My Parents Are Aliens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Spaced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Tina

  • Coming Soon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Claudia

  • Coming Soon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • A Rather English Marriage(1998)

    as Sister

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Vanity Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lady Crawley

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Clara Trout

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Jane Eyre(1997)

    as Bessie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Midwife

  • Murder Most Horrid(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Iris Wood-Newton

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • One Foot in the Grave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Gillian

  • The Ruth Rendell Mysteries(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Audrey Barker

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Anxious People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Poe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Friend (Voice)

  • The Arrival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Cadburys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy Adlington

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles, 92 of them dated from 1987 to 2026; peak year 2017.

Biggest box office

Stardust (2007)

$138M worldwide

Highest rated

The Thick of It (2005)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Dracula (2020)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19872026

Peak 2017 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 6 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting95 of 96: 92 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thWriting2 of 96: 1 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 96: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

96 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s11 · 10 acting · 1 crew2000s26 · 26 acting · 1 crew2010s30 · 30 acting · 2 crew2020s24 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 9% of 23 roles
970717

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.

Awards

a BAFTA Award from 5 major nominations, 2010–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 2022
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Leading Actress
  3. 2013
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Writer: Comedy
  4. 2011
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Writer
  5. 2010
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Female Performance in a Comedy Role

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Joanna Scanlan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

The Larkins (2021)

80th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Thick of It (2005)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 83, 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 Joanna Scanlan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles26–66 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles23–53 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles5–88 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles25–45 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles11–63 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Joanna Scanlan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joanna Scanlan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alexandra Roach shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles