Sue Holderness

Born Susan Joan Holderness on May 28, 1949, in Hampstead, London, England, Sue Holderness embarked on her acting journey after training at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She began her career with the Manchester 69 Theatre Company, appearing in productions such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Peer Gynt,” and performing as Desdemona in “Catch My Soul.” Her early career also saw her consistently working in theatre, radio, film, and television, with notable West End appearances in plays like “The Female Odd Couple” and the acclaimed one-woman play “Our Kid,” based on Myra Hindley. Holderness also regularly featured in “The Vagina Monologues” and toured in various Alan Ayckbourn plays, including “Relatively Speaking,” “Time and Time Again,” and “How the Other Half Loves,” often alongside John Challis.

Holderness gained significant recognition for her role as Marlene Boyce in “Only Fools and Horses,” appearing from 1985 to 2003 across 20 episodes. This role cemented her status in British television and led to the spin-off series, “The Green Green Grass,” where she reprised her character for 32 episodes between 2005 and 2009. Her television credits are extensive, including roles in “The Sandbaggers” (two series), “Bless This House” (1974), “It Takes a Worried Man” (two series), “The Cleopatras,” “Minder” (1984), “Cold Feet” (2000-2003), and “Murder in Suburbia.” She also played Maggie in “Dear John” (1986-1987) and has made guest appearances in popular dramas like “Doctors” (2004-2014), “Casualty” (2013), “Holby City” (2020), “EastEnders” (2021), and “Still Open All Hours” (2018-2019).

Beyond her television work, Holderness has appeared in films such as “That’ll Be the Day” (1973) and “It Could Happen to You” (1976). She has also maintained a strong presence in theatre, touring in “Calendar Girls” from 2010 to 2012. Throughout her career, she has consistently taken on diverse roles across various mediums, demonstrating her versatility as an actress. Her current role as Judith Lloyd-James in “The Madame Blanc Mysteries” further highlights her continued activity and relevance in contemporary television.