Samantha Beckinsale

Samantha Jane Beckinsale (born 23 July 1966) is an English actress famous for her role in London's Burning and her role as Lesley in the sitcom Shelley between 1989 and 1992. She is the daughter of Richard Beckinsale and half sister of Kate Beckinsale.

Beckinsale was educated at the Matthew Holland School (now known as the Selston Arts and Community College) in Selston, Nottinghamshire. She is married to actor Richard Trinder.

In 1986, Beckinsale achieved fame when she was chosen by LWT to play a regular in ITV's popular drama London's Burning', which ran from 1988 to 2002. In 1989, Beckinsale played a guest-starred as WPC Martin in an episode of Thames Television's Never the Twain. Shortly after this, she was given the role of Lesley in the final three series of Thames Television's Shelley. In 1994, she was chosen by the BBC to play the role of Gillian in the popular sitcom Time after Time which lasted a year.

In 1997, Beckinsale starred as Jilly Howell in the popular though short-lived sitcom Get Well Soon and in 1998 she was chosen by LWT to play the role of Gillian (Marilyn) Monroe in the short-lived sitcom Duck Patrol with Richard Wilson (One Foot in the Grave). She has appeared regularly on television ever since.