Ruth Sheen (born 1952) is an English actress. Born in London, Sheen began her career by training at the East 15 Acting School, and has appeared regularly on British television and in British films since 1988. On television, she had recurring roles as Nanny Simmons in Berkeley Square (1998), and as Nurse Ethel Carr in the series Bramwell (1995–1998). She has also appeared as four different characters in six episodes of The Bill between 1989 and 2004. She has also appeared in five Mike Leigh films: in the female lead role of Shirley in High Hopes (1988); as Laughing Woman in Secrets & Lies (1996); as Maureen in All or Nothing (2002), as Lily in Vera Drake (2004) and as Gerri in Another Year (2010). Her role in High Hopes won her the Best Actress award at the 1989 European Film Awards. In 2007, she played the role of Lyn, opposite Ben Whishaw's Steven, in the world premiere of Philip Ridley's stage play, Leaves of Glass at the Soho Theatre, London. She also plays the mother of Jim Sturgess's character, Jamie, in Philip Ridley's feature film, Heartless.

Filmography

• 2025The Thursday Murder Club — Aunt Maud
• 2024The After — Tabatha
• 2024Touch — Mrs. Ellis
• Hijack — Elaine Atterton
• 2023Sweetly It Turns — Joy
• 2021Cyrano — Mother Marthe
• It's a Sin — Sandra
• The Nevers — Mrs. Beechum
• Gangs of London — Deborah Devereux
• Brassic — Kath
• The Woman in White — Mrs Clements
• 2018VS. — Fiona
• Prime Suspect 1973 — Renee Bentley
• Strike — Pat Chauncey
• 2016A Street Cat Named Bob — Elsie
• 2015A Royal Night Out — Jack's Mum
• 2015SuperBob — Pat
• 2015The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge — Elizabeth Gadge
• Unforgotten — Lizzie Wilton
• Inside No. 9 — Elizabeth Gadge
• 2014Mr. Turner — Sarah Danby
• The Mimic — Mrs Hurdle
• 2013Welcome to the Punch — Iris Warns
• Accused — Mo's Mum
• 2010Another Year — Gerri
• 2010Heartless — Marion Morgan
• 2010The Hardest Part — Bus Lady
• 2009Brave Young Men — Stephanie Malloy
• Misfits — Maggie
• 2007A Class Apart — Ruth - Candy's mum
• A Class Apart — Ruth
• 2007Fanny Hill — Mrs. Jones
• Fanny Hill — Mrs Jones
• 2007Hush Your Mouth — Mrs Collins
• 2007Run Fatboy Run — Claudine
• 2006Imagine Me & You — Mrs Webster
• Vital Signs — Val
• 2005Footprints in the Snow — Lady Victualler
• 2005The English Harem — Emily
• Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky — Aunt Winnie
• 2004Vanity Fair — Miss Pinkerton
• 2004Vera Drake — Lily
• 2003Cheeky — Tamara
• 2002All or Nothing — Maureen
• 2002Plain Jane — May
• 2001Lorna Doone — Betty Muxworthy
• 2000Bait — Cafe Woman
• 2000Don Quixote — 1st Wench / Young Lady
• Lorna Doone — Betty Muxworthy
• Never Never — Sandra
• 1999Virtual Sexuality — Jackie Lovett
• Berkeley Square — Nanny Simmons
• Midsomer Murders — Valerie Horton
• The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling — Mrs. Harris
• 1996Different for Girls — Nosy neighbour
• 1996Secrets & Lies — Laughing Woman
• Silent Witness
• Bramwell
• 1995The Young Poisoner's Handbook — Molly
• 1994Sin Bin — Viv Hastings
• Cracker — Jean McIlvanney, Jean McIIvanney
• Peak Practice — Pauline Wadham
• 1993When Pigs Fly — Marge
• 1992A Fatal Inversion — Forensic Scientist
• 1992Ghostwatch — Emma Stableford (voice)
• 1991Clubland — Karen
• 1990Night Voice — Helen Baldwin
• 1989High Hopes — Shirley
• 1989The Angry Earth — Nurse Berry
• 1987Little Dorrit — Society Lady
• Casualty — Barbara George
• ScreenPlay — Karen
• Screen Two — Viv Hastings
• The Bill

Appearances as themselves (1)

• 2014The One and Only Mike Leigh — Self