Kathy Burke (born June 13 1964) is a British actress.

Born in London, Burke's first role was in the controversial film Scrubbers , directed by Swedish actress Mai Zetterling. The movie was set in a young offenders institute for girls and was seen as a female version of the infamous Scum.

Burke first became familiar to television audiences as a player of minor roles in sketches by better-known performers such as Harry Enfield, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Along with French and Saunders, she featured on a Comic Relief charity single as a member of a Bananarama lookalike band. She quickly became successful in her own right and although mainly associated with comedy, she has played several serious roles including that of Queen Mary I of England in Elizabeth.

In 1997 Burke won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the gritty drama Nil by Mouth

In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.

Films

• Anita and Me (2002)
• Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (2002)
• The Martins (2001)
• Kevin and Perry Go Large (2000)
• Love, Honour and Obey (2000)
• Elizabeth (1998)
• Dancing at Lughnasa (1998)
• Nil by Mouth (1997)
• Sid and Nancy (1986)
• Scrubbers (1983)

Television

• Absolutely Fabulous (1992)
• French and Saunders (1987)
• Gimme Gimme Gimme (co-wrote)
• Harry Enfield and Chums (1994)
• Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1990)
• Have I Got News For You (1990)
• Let Them Eat Cake (1999)
• Never Mind The Buzzcocks (1996)
• Pleasure Island (1999)
• Room 101 (1994)
• Shooting Gallery (1999)
• Ted & Ralph (1998)
• V Graham Norton (2002)