Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire (born 10 October 1964) is an English actress from Oldham, England. She is known for her roles on screen and stage; her combined acting credits have earned Lancashire various accolades over a career spanning four decades, including two British Academy Television Awards. Lancashire graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1986 and began her career in local theatre while teaching drama at Salford University. Lancashire was cast in television programmes including Coronation Street (1991–1996, 2000), Where the Heart Is (1997–1999), Clocking Off (2000) and Seeing Red (2000) and earned widespread recognition. In July 2000 Lancashire signed a two-year golden handcuffs contract with the ITV network, which made her the UK's highest-paid television actress. Subsequent television roles include the costume dramas Oliver Twist (2007), Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–2011) and The Paradise (2012), and the fact-based dramas Cherished (2005) and Five Daughters (2010). Since the 2010s Lancashire has earned success and critical acclaim for her roles in the drama series Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020), Happy Valley (2014–2023) and Julia (2022–present). Lancashire has also appeared in the feature films And When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007) and Dad's Army (2016) and West End theatre productions including Blood Brothers in 1990, Guys and Dolls from 2005 to 2006 and Betty Blue Eyes in 2011. Early life Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire was born on 10 October 1964 in Oldham, Lancashire. Her father, Geoffrey Lancashire (1933–2004), was a television scriptwriter for Coronation Street who also wrote situation comedies such as The Cuckoo Waltz. Her mother, Hilda, worked as Geoffrey's personal assistant. She has three brothers, one older, one younger and a twin. Lancashire was educated at Oldham Hulme Grammar School between 1976 and 1981. At the age of 17 she started to suffer clinical depression. Lancashire has stated she was never driven by the ideas of fame and status. Her background had inspired an initial interest in working behind the scenes in television. She did not give serious thought to the performing arts until the age of 18. After winning a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Lancashire realised that she enjoyed acting. She graduated in 1986, describing her time as a student there as "tremendous" but "seriously hard work and quite intimidating". Career Career beginnings (1988–1990) After rejection from several repertory theatre companies, Lancashire was given her first acting role by Howard Lloyd-Lewis,