Lesley Sharp, born in Manchester in 1960, is a British actress of stage, film, and television. Trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she established a fruitful collaboration with director Mike Leigh, appearing in acclaimed films such as *Naked* (1993) and *Vera Drake* (2004). She achieved international fame for her role as Jean in the hit film *The Full Monty* (1997). Her television career is equally notable, with memorable performances in series such as *Bob & Rose*, *Clocking Off*, the supernatural drama *Afterlife*, where she played the medium Alison Mundy, and the popular crime drama *Scott & Bailey* as Detective Janet Scott. Also active in theatre, her performance in *The Rise and Fall of Little Voice* earned her a Laurence Olivier Award. Throughout her career, she has received numerous BAFTA Television Award nominations, a testament to her consistent critical acclaim.