Long careers are rarer than they look, and Ruth McCabe has become a familiar face who has rarely been away from the screen for long. She also turns up in 'Victoria & Abdul'. The career opened quietly, the way most long ones do. Drama is where the largest part of the work sits. She has been working on screen for more than 37 years. Playing Mother Barbara in 'Philomena' put her in front of the widest audience of the career.