Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1965-08-18
- Born Place: London, England
Clare Perkins
Clare Perkins (born August 18, 1965) is a distinguished English actress known for her extensive and versatile work across film, television, radio, and theatre. Born in Lewisham, London, she trained at the prestigious Rose Bruford College and has since established herself as a prominent figure in British drama. Perkins is recognizable to television audiences for her roles as Denise Boulter in the long-running soap opera Family Affairs (2003–2005) and as Ava Hartman, the daughter of Cora Cross, in EastEnders (2012–2013). More recently, she has gained international recognition for her key roles in major streaming series, including playing the ageing activist Myrna in Stephen Merchant’s comedy-drama The Outlaws (2021–present) and the character Carla McLain in the Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo (2023–present). Her prolific film career includes appearances in critically acclaimed and Palme d’Or-winning films such as Ken Loach’s Ladybird, Ladybird (1994) and Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies (1996), as well as playing Beverley in Bullet Boy (2004), for which she won a Best Actress award at the Screen Nation Awards. On stage, Perkins has enjoyed significant success in the West End and at the National Theatre, notably starring in the transfers of Emilia and Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat, and earning high praise for her starring role as the titular character, Alvita, in Zadie Smith's modern adaptation of The Wife of Willesden.
