Josie Lawrence

Josie Lawrence is an acclaimed actress and comedian, recognized for her versatility across stage, television, and radio. After becoming the first female performer to appear on the seminal British television series Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1988, Josie Lawrence rapidly distinguished herself with her unique improvisational singing and comedic talent. A graduate of Dartington College of Arts with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree (1981), Lawrence began her professional stage career with a role in The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists at the Half Moon Theatre.

in 1999. In 2001, Lawrence made her prominent West End debut, starring as Anna in the musical The King and I. Her versatile voice work also includes voicing ‘Duck’ in the animated series Dog and Duck (1999-2001). Lawrence’s versatility extended to notable television and film appearances, including Casualty (2010), Barbara in Humans (2016), and Pamela Harper in the film Finding Your Feet (2017).

She has been recognized with honorary doctorates from Dartington College of Arts (1994), the University of Wolverhampton (2004), and Aston University (2006) for her contributions to the entertainment industry. Beyond her performance work, Lawrence is a dedicated philanthropist, undertaking significant treks across China, Cuba, Peru, and Tanzania for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2003. In 2005, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Sunfield, a school for children with autism, of which she is a patron, and later raised an additional £25,000 for the charity on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in 2009.

Maintaining a strong presence across British television, Lawrence has recently appeared as Agnes Nutter in Good Omens (2019), Dr. Helen Middleton in Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (2020), and Prof. Lorna McIntosh in Midsomer Murders (2023). Her latest television role is Christine Kipley in Father Brown (2024), continuing her legacy of diverse and compelling performances in both comedic and dramatic roles.