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Dorothy Atkinson

Dorothy Atkinson

Actor · Born January 1, 1966 (60) · Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Dorothy Caroline Atkinson (born 1966) is an English actress and singer. She has appeared in several plays by playwright Alan Ayckbourn and in films by Mike Leigh, including Topsy-Turvy, All or Nothing, and Mr. Turner, which premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, and for which she was nominated for the BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress. An April 2021 announcement stated that Atkinson would be joining the cast of the second season of All Creatures Great and Small as Diana Brompton.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1966 (60)
From
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 46 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 42% in 30 days

What are Dorothy Atkinson's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
35%
Bonds
31%
Society
10%
Morality
7%
Survival
7%
Ideas
7%
Power
2%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAging2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 3 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 3 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3
  • Tricksteras Pauline in Mum (2016)
  • Threshold guardianas Jessie Cole in Without Sin (2022)
  • Threshold guardianas DCS Carol Shaw in Ludwig (2024)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Warm
5
Contemplative
6
Melancholic
4
Joyful
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dorothy Atkinson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dorothy Atkinson's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

46 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Agatha Christie's Seven Dials(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lady Maria Coote

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Joan(2024)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mrs. May

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Ludwig(2024)

    Show 12 episodes · as DCS Carol Shaw

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Saltburn(2023)

    as Paula Quick

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Long Shadow(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Betty Hoban

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Gold(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jeannie Savage

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Stonehouse(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Betty Boothroyd

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Without Sin(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jessie Cole

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Pistol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sylvia Cook

  • Magpie Murders(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lady Frances Pye

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Tom Hanks: Hollywood's Mr Nice Guy(2022)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Electrical Life of Louis Wain(2021)

    as Mrs Du Frayne · as Mrs. DuFrayne

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • All Creatures Great & Small(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Diana Brompton

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Pennyworth(2019)

    Show 30 episodes · as Mary Pennyworth

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Hanna(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Therapist

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Peterloo(2018)

    as Singing Weaver

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Mercy(2018)

    as Eve Tetley

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Next of Kin(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Annabel Ghillies

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • C.B. Strike(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kathryn Kent

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Harlots(2017)

    Show 16 episodes · as Florence Scanwell

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Mum(2016)

    Show 18 episodes · as Pauline

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Peter and Wendy(2015)

    as Nurse Doyle

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Code of a Killer(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Barbara Ashworth

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • That Day We Sang(2014)

    as Gertrude Riall

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Turner(2014)

    as Hannah Danby

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Inside No. 9(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ann

  • Call the Midwife(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · as Jane Sutton

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Shirley Hewarth

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • PhoneShop(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Sue

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Chatroom(2010)

    as Emily’s Mother

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Mid Life Christmas(2009)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • May Contain: Nuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Mrs. Whimhurst

  • Sunshine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jennifer

  • Skins(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Housewife, 49(2005)

    as Mrs Mac

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Peep Show(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Therapist

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • All or Nothing(2002)

    as Silent Passenger

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Final Curtain(2002)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Murder in Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie

  • Topsy-Turvy(1999)

    as Jessie Bond

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Merry War(1997)

    as Dora

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Angela Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman Driver

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Parsons · as Connie Gibson

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • London's Burning(1988)

    Show 17 episodes · as Zoe Parrish

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 46 titles from 1986 to 2026; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

Mr. Turner (2014)

$22M worldwide

Highest rated

Ludwig (2024)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19862026

Peak 2014 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 46: 46 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score78th

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s9 · acting2010s18 · acting2020s13 · acting

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Dorothy Atkinson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 15; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 80th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Mid Life Christmas (2009)

72nd percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Call the Midwife (2012)

Midcredits 96th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 62. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Dorothy Atkinson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles28–61 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles22–67 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 35 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Dorothy Atkinson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dorothy Atkinson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lesley Manville shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers