# Clare Holman
**Clare Holman** (full name Clare Margaret Holman) is a British actress and director, born in 1964 in London, best known for playing the forensic pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson in *Inspector Morse* and its spin-off *Lewis*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/) In a screen career spanning from the late 1980s into the 2020s, she has also worked extensively in theater with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company) and the [Royal National Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-national-theatre), and has moved into television and short-film directing.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964, London, England, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) |
| Signature role | Dr. Laura Hobson, forensic pathologist, in *Inspector Morse* (5 episodes, 1995–2000) and *Lewis*[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092379/fullcredits/) |
| Theatre recognition | Nominated for a 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) |
| Known films | *Let Him Have It* (1991, Iris Bentley), *Tom & Viv* (1994), *Blood Diamond* (2006), *Suite Française* (2014), *Censor* (2021), *Killer Heat* (2024), *Cold Storage* (2026)[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/) |
| Directing | *The Escort* (2008) and *Only the Lonely* (2018) shorts; episodes of *Doctors* and *Holby City*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600) |
| Marriage | Married to director Howard Davies from April 2005 until his death on 25 October 2016[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) |
| Teaching | Teaches acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) |
## Dr. Laura Hobson
Holman's defining television role is Dr. Laura Hobson, the pathologist who assists Chief Inspector Morse in the later episodes of *Inspector Morse*, appearing in five episodes between 1995 and 2000.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092379/fullcredits/) She carried the character into the spin-off series *Lewis*, and her agency notes that she is, besides [Kevin Whately](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-whately), the only actor to play the same character in both series.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) The role ran across two decades, from the 1990s into the 2010s.[5](https://insightbritain.co.uk/business/clare-holman-career-age-husband/)
## Stage career
Holman's theater work is concentrated at Britain's major companies. With the Royal Shakespeare Company she appeared in Christopher Hampton's *Les Liaisons Dangereuses* at the Ambassadors Theatre in 1987, and in *The Two Gentlemen of Verona* and *Romeo and Juliet* at the Barbican in 1992.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/otherworks/) In Royal National Theatre seasons she played Abigail in [Arthur Miller](https://www.edgepedia.org/arthur-miller)'s *The Crucible* (1990, directed by Howard Davies) and Harper Amity Pitt in [Tony Kushner](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-kushner)'s *Angels in America*.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/)
**Olivier nomination.** In 1996 she played Honey in [Edward Albee](https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-albee)'s *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* at the Almeida Theatre and the Aldwych Theatre in London, alongside [Diana Rigg](https://www.edgepedia.org/diana-rigg), David Suchet, and [Lloyd Owen](https://www.edgepedia.org/lloyd-owen), again directed by Howard Davies; the performance brought a nomination for the 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/otherworks/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio) Later stage credits include *Handbagged* at the Tricycle Theatre, *The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder* at the National Theatre, and *Measure for Measure* with the RSC.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/)
## Film and television
Her early film roles include Iris Bentley in *Let Him Have It* (1991), the story of Derek Bentley, and Louise Purdon in *Tom & Viv* (1994).[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/) Later film work spans studio productions and British independents: a news reporter in [Edward Zwick](https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-zwick)'s *Blood Diamond* (2006), Martha in *[Suite Française](https://www.edgepedia.org/suite-francaise-film)* (2014), June in Prano Bailey-Bond's *Censor* (2021), Audrey in Philippe Lacôte's *Killer Heat* (2024), and Annie in *Cold Storage* (2026).[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/)
On television she has appeared across a wide range of British drama: Princess Marina in the second season of *[The Crown](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-crown-tv-series)*, Miss Bach in *The Little Drummer Girl*, Mary Angelis in *Treason*, Helen St Clair in *[Sherwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/sherwood-2022-tv-series)*, Lady Cacher in *[Cursed](https://www.edgepedia.org/cursed-2020-tv-series)*, and Gytha in *King & Conqueror* (2025), alongside guest roles in series such as *Midsomer Murders*, *Silent Witness*, *Agatha Raisin*, and *Death in Paradise*.[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-45563/filmographie/) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/person/clare-holman/)
## Directing and teaching
Alongside acting, Holman has built a directing career. Her short films *The Escort* (2008) and *Only the Lonely* (2018) have been recognized at festivals including Aesthetica and the Groucho Film Festival, and she has directed episodes of the television series *Doctors* and *Holby City*.[9](https://www.independenttalent.com/directors/clare-holman/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600) Her agency describes her as bringing a perspective shaped by acting, directing, and writing experience, and notes that she leads screen acting masterclasses at The Actors Studio at Pinewood.[9](https://www.independenttalent.com/directors/clare-holman/) She also teaches acting at the [Guildhall School of Music and Drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/guildhall-school-of-music-and-drama).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio)
## Personal life
Holman was married to the stage and opera director Howard Davies from April 2005 until his death on 25 October 2016.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio)
## References
1. [Clare Holman – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/bio)
2. [Clare Holman – Actor, Independent Talent](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/clare-holman/)
3. [Clare Holman, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600)
4. [Inspector Morse (TV Series 1987–2000) – Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092379/fullcredits/)
5. [Clare Holman: What She's Doing Now, Career, Husband and More, Insight Britain](https://insightbritain.co.uk/business/clare-holman-career-age-husband/)
6. [Clare Holman – Other works, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391600/otherworks/)
7. [Clare Holman : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-45563/filmographie/)
8. [Clare Holman, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/clare-holman/)
9. [Clare Holman – Director, Independent Talent](https://www.independenttalent.com/directors/clare-holman/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Gw to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license