Katherine Parkinson
Known for
Katherine Parkinson is a British actress born on March 9, 1978, in Hounslow, Greater London. She is best known for playing Jen Barber in the sitcom The IT Crowd (2006-2013), a role that earned her a BAFTA Award. Parkinson has also appeared in the drama series Doc Martin and in various British television productions. She has worked across theatre, television, and film throughout her career. Her comedic timing has made her a recognizable figure in British television comedy.
Katherine Parkinson
20 Movies
23 Series
Katherine Parkinson is a British actress born on March 9, 1978, in Hounslow, Greater London. She is best known for playing Jen Barber in the sitcom The IT Crowd (2006-2013), a role that earned her a BAFTA Award. Parkinson has also appeared in the drama series Doc Martin and in various British television productions. She has worked across theatre, television, and film throughout her career. Her comedic timing has made her a recognizable figure in British television comedy.
Movies
Plays Mrs. Forrest (voice)
That Christmas
2024
Plays Marion Whittaker
Easy Virtue
2008
Plays PR Woman
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
2008
Plays Isola Pribby
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
2018
Plays Felicity
The Boat That Rocked
2009
Plays Jeanne Langevin
Radioactive
2020
Plays Physics Teacher
St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold
2009
Plays Nell
The Nan Movie
2022
Plays Rebecca
Sardines
2014
Plays Clemmie
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break
2021
Plays Vanessa
Christmas at the Riviera
2007
Plays Kate
How to Fake a War
2020
Plays Beatrice
National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing
2022
TV Shows
Plays Pauline Lamb
Doc Martin
2004
Plays Jen Barber
The IT Crowd
2006
Plays Laura Hawkins
Humans
2015
Plays Rachel Jessop
Here We Go
2022
Plays Various
Katy Brand's Big Ass Show
2007
Plays Lizzie Vereker
Rivals
2024
Plays Kim
In the Club
2014
Plays Self
Taskmaster
2015
Plays Amber
The Old Guys
2009
Plays Rachel Stein
The Honourable Woman
2014
Plays Lauren
Spreadsheet
2021
Plays Gemma
Fear, Stress & Anger
2007
Plays Caroline
Whites
2010
Plays Anna
Significant Other
2023
Plays Brenda Kennedy
The Kennedys
2015
Plays Caroline
Defending the Guilty
2018
Plays Karen Muller
Hang Ups
2018
Plays Kat Gaitskill
Hitmen
2020
Plays Sophie
The Great Outdoors
2010
Plays Conceptiva
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff
2012
Plays Rebecca
Inside No. 9
2014
Plays Ange
Urban Myths
2017
Plays Kitty Riley
Sherlock
2010
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
Full Filmography
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza
Rachel Jessop
2025
Film
Dating Mark Silcox
Claire
2025
Film
That Christmas
Mrs. Forrest (voice)
2024
Film
Rivals
Lizzie Vereker · 14 episodes
2024–
TV
Significant Other
Anna · 6 episodes
2023
TV
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas
Rachel Jessop
2023
Film
National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing
Beatrice
2022
Film
Here We Go
Rachel Jessop · 19 episodes
2022–
TV
The Nan Movie
Nell
2022
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Katherine Parkinson and where are they from?
Katherine Parkinson is 48 years old, born on March 9, 1978 in Hounslow, Greater London, England, UK.
What are the most famous roles of Katherine Parkinson?
Katherine Parkinson is best known for roles in The Boat That Rocked, The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, Radioactive.
How many movies has Katherine Parkinson been in?
Over a 21-year career (since 2005), Katherine Parkinson has appeared in 20 movies and 20 TV shows.
What was Katherine Parkinson's first movie?
The career of Katherine Parkinson began with Ahead of the Class (2005).
What is Katherine Parkinson's most recent movie or series?
Katherine Parkinson's most recent release is Rivals: The Official Podcast, which premiered on May 15, 2026.
What TV shows has Katherine Parkinson appeared in?
On television, Katherine Parkinson has appeared in Sherlock, The IT Crowd, Humans, Extras.
Katherine Parkinson
1978-03-09 · Hounslow, Greater London, England, UK
Katherine Parkinson (born March 9, 1978) is an English actress. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series The IT Crowd as Jen Barber, for which she received a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014, and was nominated twice for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, winning in 2014.
Parkinson studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and has appeared on stage in the plays The Seagull (2007), Cock (2009), and Home, I'm Darling (2018), for which she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play.
Parkinson was also a main cast member of the series Doc Martin for three series (2005–2009). She co-starred in all three series of Humans, a science-fiction drama on AMC/Channel 4, which aired from 2015 until 2018. She has also appeared in the films The Boat That Rocked (2009) and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018).