Deborah Findlay (born 31 December 1947) is an English actress. She has worked primarily on stage and is an Olivier Award Winner, but has also appeared in several TV series. She is known for playing the Defoe family matriarch Ruth in three series of the BBC TV legal drama The Split (2018–2022).
Early life and education Findlay joined a theatre company while studying English at the University of Leeds.
Career Theatre Findlay has worked primarily on stage, appearing in numerous productions, including the original Top Girls. In the 1980s she worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company where she appeared in Twelfth Night and The Merchant Of Venice. In 1997 she won an Olivier Award, as well as Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, for her performance as Hilda, the wife of the painter Stanley Spencer in Pam Gems' play Stanley.
In 2008, she starred in the US premiere of Vincent River by Philip Ridley. In 2009 she appeared alongside Judi Dench in a Donmar West End revival of Madame de Sade.
In 2013, she starred in the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus as Volumnia, a role which earned her Clarence Derwent award for best supporting actress.
In 2016, she appeared on the stage of The Royal Court Theatre twice: as Sally in Caryl Churchill's Escaped Alone and as Hazel in Lucy Kirkwood's The Children. She reprised her role during The Children's Broadway run, receiving a Tony Award nomination.
In 2018, she appeared at the Bridge Theatre in London, playing the role of Sister Gilchrist in Alan Bennett's Allelujah!
Findlay appeared in the UK premiere of Eline Arbo's play The Years at the Almeida Theatre from July to August 2024, reprising her role when the play transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End in January 2025.
Television Findlay's TV credits include Nurse Motte 1992 Maigret with Michael Gambon; Gillian in the ITV drama The Last Train (1999); and the recurring character Greer Thornton in four of the six episodes of State of Play and in the episode "The French Drop" (2004) in Foyle's War.
She appeared in four episodes of the 2001 series of The Armstrong and Miller Show and one episode of the acclaimed and original entry of the Messiah TV series. In autumn 2007 she appeared with Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton and Francesca Annis in the BBC1 costume drama series Cranford, playing the role of the spinster Miss Tompkinson, as well as in Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale. She reprised her (in this case more prominent) role as Miss TompkinsonEl in the two-part Christmas special Return to Cranford.
She portrayed Home Secretary Denise Riley in Torchwood's 2009 third series Children of Earth. She was featured in separate episodes as agent Mary Carter in October 2003 and lawyer Gemma King in January 2010 of the BBC1 series Silent Witness. In 2010 she also appeared in Agatha Christie’s Poirot “Hallowe’en Party” as Rowena Drake. She also appeared in two episodes of the ITV series Midsomer Murders: as Hilary Richards in "Blue Herrings" (2000) and as Lorna Sloane in "Murder by Magic" (2015).
Findlay played Sarah Cushing in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes episode The Cardboard Box, which aired on television on the 11 April 1994.
In episodes aired in 2018, 2020 and 2022 she portrayed Ruth in three series of the BBC TV legal drama The Split.
Radio Findlay's radio credits include Sally in Closed to Visitors by Dawn Lowe-Watson on BBC Radio 4 in 1992 and Hermione Pink in the BBC Radio 4 Drama The Ferryhill Philosophers, starting in 2015. Findlay played Miss Dredger in BBC Radio 4 Drama Mr Pye 2023.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Note 1990 Truly Madly Deeply Claire 1995 Jack & Sarah Miss Cartwright 1999 The End of the Affair Miss Smythe 2001 Me Without You Judith A Loving Act Dr. Emily Smith Short film 2004 Vanity Fair Mrs. Sedley 2008 Summer Doctor Price One of Those Days Supervisor Short film 2011 Arthur Christmas General 1 (voice) 2014 National Theatre Live: Coriolanus Volumnia Suite Française Madame Joseph 2015 The Lady in the Van Pauline The Ones Below Tessa 2016 Jackie Maud Shaw Kaleidoscope Maureen 2017 Hampstead Mary Neal 2018 National Theatre Live: Allelujah! Sister Gilchrist 2019 Making Noise Quietly Helene Ensslin 2021 From a Strange Land Margaret Short film 2022 Up on the Roof Claire 2023 Such a Lovely Day Granny T-C Short film 2024 That Christmas Mrs. Horton (voice) 2025 A Death in the Family Mother Short film
Television Year Title Role(s) Note(s) 1978–1980 The English Programme Unknown role 3 episodes only 1982 Play for Today Ingy Episode: "Commitments" 1983 Busted Angela Television film 1984 Shroud for a Nightingale Heather Pearce Miniseries Dramarama Nurse Episode: "Rachel and Rosie" 1986 Ladies in Charge Hetty Miniseries1 episode only What If It's Raining Marilyn Miniseries 1989 First and Last Lisa Television film 1991 All Good Things Doll Miniseries Performance Joyce/Isabella Bird/Mrs. Kidd Episode: "Top Girls" The House of Bernarda Alba Martirio Television film 1992 Anglo Saxon Attitudes Kay Consett Miniseries Natural Lies Grace Downtown Lagos Celia Dawson 1993 Maigret Juliette Motte Miniseries1 episode only 15: The Life and Death of Philip Knight Cheryl Morris Television film 1994 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Sarah Cushing Miniseries1 episode only Milner Sylvia Milner Television film 1994–2000 Casualty Caroline Palmer/Debbie Cookson 2 episodes only 1996 The Vet Anna Walker Miniseries1 episode only 1997 Jane Eyre Mrs. Reed Television film 1998 Heat of the Sun Matilda Watcham Miniseries1 episode only Kavanagh QC Susannah Emmott Episode: "Bearing Witness" Trial & Retribution DC Jill Ashton 2 episodes only 1999 The Last Train Gillian Miniseries1 episode only Wives and Daughters Miss Phoebe Miniseries 2000 Anna Karenina Countess Lydia The Bill Det. Supt. Wray Episode: "Fifty-Fifty" Comedy Lab Roxanne Anderson Episode: "Anderson" 2000−2015 Midsomer Murders Lorna Soane/Hilary Richards 2 episodes only 2001 Armstrong and Miller Various roles 4 episodes only Messiah Clarissa Buchanan Miniseries1 episode only 2003 State of Mind D.C.I. Stella Munroe Television film State of Play Greer Thornton Miniseries Home Margaret Ballantyne Television film 2003–2010 Silent Witness Mary Carter/Gemma King 4 episodes only 2004 Foyle's War Mrs. Thorndyke/Evelyn Cresswell Episode: "The French Drop" 2006 The Family Man Mary Television film Thin Ice Jeanette Miniseries 2007 This Life + 10 Doctor Television films The Yellow House Madame Roulin The Good Samaritan Eileen Mayhew Who Gets the Dog? Pamela Wilson Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale Susan Owen 2007–2009 Cranford Miss Tomkinson Miniseries 2008 Lewis Lady Hugh Episode: "Life Born of Fire" Heartbeat Eva Knight Episode: "Out of the Long Dark Knight" 2009 Gunrush Jill Television film Torchwood Denise Riley 2 episodes only 2010 Poirot Rowena Drake Episode: "Hallowe'en Party" Law & Order: UK Kim Sharkey Episode: "Broken" 2011 The Trouble with Tolstoy Sophia Tolstoy (voice) Miniseries New Tricks Helen Gilder Episode: "Setting Out Your Stall" 2012 Holby City Philippa Pawlowski 2 episodes only Leaving Vanessa Miniseries 2013 Starlings Sandra Episode: "Episode #2.6" 2015 Life in Squares Aunt Jane Miniseries1 episode only Coalition Harriet Harman Television film Comedy Blaps Harriet Episode: "High and Dry Blap" 2016 Lovesick Fiona Episode: "Jonesy?" 2018 Collateral Eleanor Shaw Miniseries2 episodes only 2018–2024 The Split Ruth Defoe 20 episodes only 2021 The Drowning Lynn Miniseries Romeo and Juliet Nurse Television film 2023 Dalgliesh Miss Willard 2 episodes only
Podcasts Year Title Role Note 2022 Doctor Who: Peladon Queen Thalira (voice) Episode: "The Poison of Peladon"
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