# Kate Ashfield

Kate Ashfield (born 28 May 1972) is an English actress and screenwriter, who has appeared in stage, TV and film roles, most famously in her role as Liz in the 2004 zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead. She is the co-writer of the 2017 TV series Born to Kill.

## Early life

Ashfield was born on 28 May 1972 in Birmingham England. Her interest in acting started at an early age, and she later pursued her passion by studying drama at Rose Bruford College.

## Career

Ashfield's acting profession began in the nineties. She appeared in numerous theatre, TV series and movies, including Shaun of the Dead, Secrets & Lies and Sanditon.
In 2004, Ashfield won the Best Actress award at the British Independent Film Awards for her role in the movie Late Night Shopping. She has also received rewards for her performances in 'This Little Life', The Baker, and Line of Duty. In addition to her acting on screen, Ashfield has appeared in several stage productions, including Blasted and Shopping and F**cking.

## Filmography

* Princess Caraboo (1994, film) – Ella
* Blasted (1995, stage) – Cate
* Shopping and Fucking (1996, stage) – Lulu
* Soldier Soldier (1996, TV) – Cate Hobbs
* Woyzeck (1997, stage) – Marie
* Closer (1998, stage) – Alice
* Guest House Paradiso (1999, film) – Ms Hardy
* The War Zone (1999, film)
* Watership Down (1999, TV series) – Primrose (Series 1/2 only)
* Storm Damage (2000, TV) – Kay
* The Low Down (2000) – Ruby
* Christie Malry's Own Double-Entry (2000) – Carol
* Late Night Shopping (2001, film) – Jody
* Do or Die (2001, miniseries) - Samantha
* Pure (2002, film) – Helen
* Crime and Punishment (2002, miniseries) – Dounia
* Beyond Borders (2003, film) – Kat
* Pollyanna (2003, film) – Nancy
* Killing Hitler (2003, TV) – Rachel
* This Little Life (2003, TV) – Sadie MacGregor
* The Trouble with Men and Women (2003, TV) – Susie
* Fakers (2004, film) – Eve Evans
* Spivs (2004, film) – Jenny
* Shaun of the Dead (2004, film) – Liz
* The Best Man (2005, TV – released as Unhitched on US DVD) – Becka
* Secret Smile (2005, TV) – Miranda
* Random Quest (2006, TV) – Ottilie/Kate
* Leave Before the Lights Come On Video – Arctic Monkeys (2006) – Suicidal Lady
* Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006, TV) – Ellen
* The Baker (2007, film) – Rhiannon
* Talk to Me (2007, TV series) – Kelly
* The Children (2008 three-part TV drama) – Natasha
* Never Better (2008, TV series) – Anita Merchant
* Collision (2009, five-part TV drama) – Ann Stallwood
* The Diary of Anne Frank (2009, five-part TV drama) – Miep Gies
* Agatha Christie's Poirot (2010, TV adaptation of Agatha Christie novel Three Act Tragedy) – Muriel Wills
* 7 Lives (2011, film) – Cynthia
* New Tricks (2011, TV series) – Hilary Newell
* Silent Witness (2011, TV drama) – Chief Inspector Rebecca Woods
* United (2011, TV drama) – Alma George
* Late Bloomers (2011, film) – Giulia
* Byzantium (2012, film) – Gabi
* When the Lights Went Out (2012, film) – Jenny Maynard
* Line of Duty (series 1) (2012, TV series) – Jools Gates
* Midsomer Murders (2013, TV series) – Helen Caxton
* Believe (2013, film) – Helen
* Nymphomaniac (2013, film) – Therapist
* Still (2014, film) – Margaret
* Hangman (2015, film) – Beth Miller
* Secrets and Lies (2015, TV series) – Vanessa Richardson
* Sick of It, (2018, TV series) – Zoe
* Sanditon, (2019, TV drama) – Mary Parker
* A Confession (2019, TV drama) – Yvonne Fulcher
* Life (2020, TV drama) – Rachel
* There’s Always Hope (2020, Feature Drama) – Samantha
* His Dark Materials (2022, TV series) – Atal (voice)
* Bodies (2023, limited series) - Elaine Morley

## Awards and nominations

She has won three awards out of eight nominations:
* 2000 British Independent Film Awards, Best Actress, The Low Down – nominee
* 2001 British Independent Film Awards, Best Actress, Late Night Shopping – winner
* 2001 Berlin International Film Festival Shooting Stars Award, Actress – winner
* 2003 British Independent Film Awards, Best Actress, This Little Life – nominee
* 2004 Royal Television Society, Best Female Actor, This Little Life – winner
* 2005 Empire Awards, Best British Actress, Shaun of the Dead – nominee
* 2017 British Screenwriters’ Awards, Best Crime Writing on Television (Series/Single Drama), Born to Kill – nominee
* 2018 BAFTA Cymru Awards, Best Television Drama, Born to Kill – nominee