British actress
She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1995 (1994 season) for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for her performance in She Loves Me.
She was nominated for a 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical of 2003 for her performance in High Society performed at the Open Air Theatre.
In 1984 she was awarded the Manchester Evening news Award for best actress. This was for her performances in Merrily We Roll Along and Carousel.
In 2002 she was awarded an Audie for her narration of the Bridget Jones Diary. She also narrated the sequel, "The Edge of Reason."
Despite playing their mother on "Scott & Bailey" , Bennett is just 12 years older than Sally Lindsay and 17 years older than Suranne Jones.
Her youthful complexion in the 1980s resulted in her making a name for herself portraying teenagers e.g. Bennett played 16-year-old Sharon Gaskell on "Coronation Street" at 21 and 18-year-old Mallandra Bradshaw on Shirley Valentine at 28.
Has played the mother of Sally Lindsay on "Scott & Bailey" , as has Pauline Collins on "Mount Pleasant" . Bennett previously played Collins daughter in Shirley Valentine .
Has won two prestigious Laurence Olivier awards on Londons west end stage- both as supporting performance in a musical for She Loves Me and Hairspray.
Nominated for both a Tony and Olivier award for her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow..
Has played Judy Garland professionally at least three times: The Long Firm, a celebrity version of Stars in Their Eyes, and onstage in End of the Rainbow.
Has an older sister, Julie (b. 1959).
Benedict Cumberbatch is her younger half-brother.
