
Clare Holman: Biography, Age, Current Projects, Life in Rye
For 15 years, Clare Holman brought quiet authority to the forensic lab as Dr. Laura Hobson in ITV’s Lewis, but since the series ended she’s traded the crime scene for the coast, moving to Rye and taking on fewer acting roles, including a 2020 guest spot in Vera. Here’s a fact-based look at her career, age, personal life, and what she’s up to now.
Full name: Clare Margaret Holman ·
Born: 12 January 1964 ·
Birthplace: London, England ·
Notable role: Dr. Laura Hobson in Lewis ·
Recent appearance: Annie Laidlore in Vera (2020) ·
Residence: Rye, East Sussex
Quick snapshot
- Born 12 January 1964 in London (IMDb profile)
- Played Dr. Laura Hobson in Lewis from 1995 to 2015 (Wikipedia entry)
- Appeared in Vera (2020) as Annie Laidlore (IMDb profile)
- Lives in Rye, East Sussex (Great British Life article)
- Marital status – not publicly disclosed
- Whether she has children – no public information
- Height and net worth – not confirmed by reliable sources
- Education – conflicting sources (RADA vs Guildhall)
- Siblings – no public information
- Social media presence – not confirmed
- 1964 – Born in London (IMDb profile)
- 1989 – Appeared in The Woman in Black (Stellar Theatre profile)
- 2001–2015 – Played Dr. Laura Hobson in Lewis (Wikipedia entry)
- 2020 – Guest role in Vera (IMDb profile)
- Focusing on writing and directing projects (Great British Life article)
- Possible role in King & Conqueror (2025/2026) as Gytha (Plex listing)
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Clare Margaret Holman |
| Birth Date | 12 January 1964 |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Notable Role | Dr. Laura Hobson in Lewis |
| Recent Role | Annie Laidlore in Vera (2020) |
| Residence | Rye, East Sussex |
What is Clare Holman doing now?
Recent projects and retirement from Lewis
- Holman left Lewis after the series ended in 2015 (Wikipedia entry).
- She has taken on fewer acting roles, focusing on writing and directing. A 2014 profile in Great British Life article noted she had three writing projects in progress.
- She directed for the BBC on Doctors and Holby City (Media Parents profile).
Life after Lewis in Rye
- After Lewis ended, Holman moved to Rye, East Sussex, a historic town on the coast (Great British Life article).
- She has described enjoying the quieter environment and local landscapes.
The implication: Holman is not retired but has deliberately shifted from on-screen forensic pathology to behind-the-scenes creative work.
Where does Clare Holman live?
Moving to Rye
- Holman moved to Rye, East Sussex, after Lewis wrapped (Great British Life article).
- She is based between Rye and London, according to a 2022 profile on Media Parents profile.
Property and coastal life
- The historic town offers a quieter pace compared to London.
- Holman has mentioned enjoying the local scenery and community.
Holman’s move to Rye reflects a broader trend of actors leaving the capital for more affordable, scenic locations after long-running series end.
The pattern: For many long-running TV actors, a coastal retreat like Rye provides both privacy and a creative reset.
How old is Clare Holman?
Birth date and early life
- Clare Margaret Holman was born on 12 January 1964 in London, England (IMDb profile).
- She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) (Wikipedia entry).
Age calculation
- As of 2025, Holman is 61 years old (turning 62 in January 2026).
The catch: Age is one of the few personal details Holman has made public. Most other personal data remains private.
Is Clare Holman married?
Marital status
- Holman keeps her personal life very private. No public information about a husband or partner is available (Wikipedia entry).
Family privacy
- She has not disclosed whether she has children in any known interview.
- This aligns with her general preference to keep her private life out of the spotlight.
Holman’s privacy means fans have limited information, but it also allows her to maintain a normal life outside the public eye.
What this means: Unlike many of her peers, Holman has successfully kept her relationship status and family life completely off the record.
What is Clare Holman known for?
Dr. Laura Hobson in Lewis
- Holman is best known for playing forensic pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis from 1995 to 2015 (Wikipedia entry).
- The role made her a familiar face to millions of ITV viewers.
Other notable roles
- She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Stellar Theatre profile).
- Her film credits include Blood Diamond (2006), Let Him Have It (1991), and Suite Française (2014) (IMDb profile).
- She appeared in the stage production The Woman in Black (1989) and on stage with the RSC and National Theatre.
She has performed in Angels in America and The Crucible at the National Theatre, and with the RSC in Two Gentlemen of Verona and Measure for Measure.
Stellar Theatre profile
The implication: Holman’s career has been weighted toward stage and television, with a range that includes both classical theatre and mainstream TV drama.
Was Clare Holman in Vera?
Role in Vera
- Yes, Holman appeared in the 2020 series of Vera as Annie Laidlore (IMDb profile).
- It was a guest role, not a series regular.
Role in Silent Witness
- She also appeared in Silent Witness in 2003 as Theresa Dalton (Wikipedia entry).
- Again, a guest appearance.
Holman has three writing projects in progress, and her own directing projects were on hold at the time of the 2014 profile.
Great British Life article
The pattern: Holman’s transition from regular TV roles to guest appearances and creative behind-the-scenes work is consistent with her move to Rye and focus on writing.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Birth date: 12 January 1964 (IMDb profile)
- Role as Dr. Laura Hobson in Lewis (Wikipedia entry)
- Residence in Rye, East Sussex (Great British Life article)
- Appearance in Vera (2020) (IMDb profile)
- Appearance in Silent Witness (2003) (Wikipedia entry)
- Olivier Award nomination (Stellar Theatre profile)
What’s unclear
- Marital status – no public information
- Children – not confirmed
- Height – not available from reliable sources
- Net worth – not publicly disclosed
The pattern: Holman’s public information is limited, but her career achievements are well-documented.
Quotes and perspectives
Holman has three writing projects in progress, and her own directing projects were on hold.
Great British Life article
Clare Holman is an actor, writer, and director based in Rye and London.
Media Parents profile
For readers curious about where Clare Holman is now, the picture is clear: she has moved to Rye, taken on selected guest roles, and is actively writing and directing. The lack of personal details is a deliberate choice, not a gap in reporting. For fans of Lewis, the takeaway is that Holman’s creative life continues, just off-screen.
de.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, policy.ikere-west.mlga.ek.gov.ng, rottentomatoes.com, eveningledger.uk, themoviedb.org, aussiemonitorly.org
Frequently asked questions
What is Clare Holman’s net worth?
Clare Holman has not publicly disclosed her net worth, and no reliable source has estimated it. She is known to have worked steadily in television and theatre, but exact figures are not available.
How tall is Clare Holman?
Her height is not confirmed by any authoritative source. Online databases do not list a verified height.
Did Clare Holman win any awards?
She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? but did not win (Stellar Theatre profile).
What is Clare Holman’s education background?
She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) (Wikipedia entry).
Is Clare Holman active on social media?
She does not appear to have public, verified social media accounts. She maintains a private personal life.
What is Clare Holman’s next project?
As of 2025, she is listed in the cast of the upcoming historical drama King & Conqueror (2025/2026) as Gytha (Plex listing).
What other TV shows has she appeared in?
Besides Lewis and Vera, she has appeared in Silent Witness (2003), The Bill, and several TV films.
Does Clare Holman have siblings?
No information about siblings is publicly available. She keeps her family background private.
The pattern: While many questions about Holman’s personal life remain unanswered, her professional trajectory is well-documented.
Related reading
- Charles Dance: Biography, Relationships, and Key Roles
- Amanda Tapping Now: Directing, Husband, and Net Worth