Known for her work in television and theatre, she has received numerous accolades over a career spanning four decades, including three British Academy Television Awards and a nomination for an Olivier Award.
Lancashire graduated from drama school in and began her career in local theatre. In July , she signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network , making her the UK's highest-paid television actress at that time. Since the s, Lancashire has garnered critical acclaim for her roles in series such as The Paradise , Last Tango in Halifax β , Happy Valley β , Kiri , and Julia β She is married and has three children.
Her father, Geoffrey Lancashire β , was a television scriptwriter for Coronation Street who also wrote situation comedies such as The Cuckoo Waltz. Lancashire has stated she was never driven by the ideas of fame and status.
She did not give serious thought to the performing arts until the age of After rejection from several repertory theatre companies, Lancashire was given her first acting role by Howard Lloyd-Lewis, artistic director of the Manchester Library Theatre Company , which provided her with an Equity card.
During her early career, Lancashire found herself with large breaks between theatre appearances. To support herself financially, she worked as a drama tutor for five years at Salford University alongside her acting work. Discussing Lancashire's time as a visiting lecturer in acting and characterisation, Ron Cook, Head of the University's School of Media, Music and Performance, said she had made a "significant impact" in the formative stages of the drama department at the university and had also directed student productions.
