Clare Margaret Holman is an English actress. She portrayed forensic pathologist Laura Hobson in the crime drama series Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis from 1995 to 2015.
Early life and education Clare Margaret Holman was born in London, England.
Career
Holman started her acting career in the 1988 television film The Rainbow based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence, directed by Stuart Burge.
In 1989 she played the part of the school teacher Mary Llewellyn in an adaptation of The Fifteen Streets by Catherine Cookson.
In 1991, she played Iris Bentley, sister to Derek Bentley, played by Christopher Eccleston, in the film Let Him Have It, and in 1992, she voiced Juliet in the Shakespeare: The Animated Tales adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
She played Harper in the Royal National Theatre's production of Tony Kushner's Angels in America in November 1993. In 1995, Holman was cast as Laura Hobson in the crime drama series Inspector Morse, where she continued to play that part until 2000 when the series ended.
Holman was nominated for a 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1996 for her performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. She appeared in three episodes of Midsomer Murders as three different characters. The episodes are entitled Country Matters (2005), Ring Out Your Dead (2002), and The Miniature Murders (2019).
In 2006, Holman reprised her role of Dr Hobson in the series Lewis, which series ended in 2015. She appeared in all 33 episodes.
In 2007, Holman played Wendy the narrator and mother of Michael in the television series Fallen Angel, a story about Rosie Byfield, a clergyman's daughter who grows up to be a psychopathic killer, starring Emilia Fox.
She portrayed Anglo-Irish noblewoman Mabel Bagenal in Brian Friel's play Making History.
In October 2013 she played the role of Liz in the Tricycle Theatre production of the Moira Buffini play Handbagged, and in 2015, Holman appeared in the film Suite Francaise. From April to May 2015, she appeared as Myra Bolton in Doris Lessing's play, Each His Own Wilderness, at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, London.
Holman has directed six episodes of Doctors in 2010 and two episodes of Holby City in 2012.
Personal life Holman was married to Howard Davies. They married in April 2005 in Stratton, Cornwall, and were together until his death in October 2016. She has stepchildren and stepgrandchildren from her husband's previous marriage. She supports ending violence against girls, contributing to Plan UK, part of the world's biggest campaign for girls' rights.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1988 The Rainbow Gudrun Brangwen 1989 The Fifteen Streets Mary LlewellynShalom SalaamJackie5 EpisodesBoonIsobel Sheridan1 Episode The Woman in Black Stella Kidd1990Screen TwoClio / Jenny2 Episodes 1991 Let Him Have It Iris Bentley Afraid of the Dark Rose1992Shakespeare: The Animated TalesJulietVoice1993Boiling PointNikki1994Tom & VivLouise PurdonParisSister Annette 1995–2000 Inspector Morse Laura Hobson1996 Giving Tongue Jessie Fielding MPThe BillJane Laker1 EspisodeFrontiersDI Louise Raynor6 EpisodesOut of The BlueBarbara Garnham1 EpisodeSoldier SoldierDS Williams1 Episode 1997–1999The Lakes Simone Fisher11 Episodes 1998 Big Women Zoe 3 Episodes 1999 Love in the 21st century Sarah Episode: "Toyboys"Kid in the CornerTheresa Letts1 EpisodeDavid CopperfieldRosa Dartle1 Episode2000Ruth Rendell MysteriesFay Devenish1 EpisodeMurder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes Helena Petchey Episode: "The Photographer's Chair" 2001 The Innocent Alison Huntley 2002 Silent Witness Theresa Dalton 2 Episodes: "Closed Ranks" (Parts 1 & 2)2002–2019Midsomer MurdersFiona Beauvoisin / Rose Southerly / Sue Tutt"The Miniature Murders" (2019), "Country Matters" (2006), "Ring Out Your Dead" (2002) 2003Island at War Felicity Dorr6 Episodes Henry VIII Catherine Parr 2 Episodes, part 2Agatha Christie: Sparkling CyanideAlexandra FarradayEpisode: "Sparkling Cyanide" Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness Elizabeth Lukic 1 Episode2004Messiah: The PromiseJaine Ellis2 Episodes 2005 Digital Reaper Mary Daines 2006 Blood Diamond News Reporter #2 Agatha Christie's Marple Miss Packard Episode: "By The Pricking of My Thumbs" 2006–2015 Lewis Laura Hobson 2006 New Tricks Sgt Beth Coulthard 2007 Fallen Angel Wendy Ellis2008The EscortN/AWriter & Director; nominated at the International Film Festival of Wales 2009 Heartbeat Sheena Buckley Episode: "Sweet Sorrow" 2011 Death in Paradise Molly KerrEpisode: "Predicting Murder" 2013 Scott & Bailey Sarah Gallagher 1 Episode 2015 Suite Francaise Marthe 2016 Silent Witness Claudia Baxter 2 Episodes: "River's Edge" (Parts 1 & 2) Waiting for You Janet 2017 Rellik Rebecca Barker The Crown Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent Episode: "Mystery Man" 2018 The Little Drummer Girl Miss Bach TV Series, 6 episodes Only the Lonely N/A Director; short film 2019Dead PixelsSylviaEpisode: "Betrothal"MotherFatherSonColonel ReeseTV Mini-Series, 3 Episodes2019Agatha RaisinRobin BarleyEpisode: "The Haunted House"2020CursedLady Cacher"Bring Us in Good Ale", "The Fey Queen"2022SherwoodHelen St. Clair6 episodesTreason Mary AngelisNetflix Series, 3 episodes2023VeraAnnie LaidloreEpisode: "The Rising Tide"2023The DiplomatPaulaSeries 1 Episodes 5 and 6
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