Clare Holman is an English actress best known for playing forensic pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis. Born in London on 12 January 1964, she has worked across television, film, and theatre for more than three decades.
Her screen credits include Blood Diamond (2006), Let Him Have It (1991), and a Laurence Olivier Award-nominated performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Away from the screen, her private life has stayed largely out of the public record, so answers about her partner, children, and net worth require careful reading of what sources actually confirm.
How Old Is Clare Holman? Her Age and Early Years
Clare Holman is 62 years old as of 2026. She was born on 12 January 1964 in London, England, a date confirmed in both Wikipedia and IMDb.
Clare Holman at a Glance
The most frequently repeated facts across biographical records and professional profiles are straightforward:
- Clare Holman played Dr. Laura Hobson in both Inspector Morse and Lewis.
- She received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
- She was born on 12 January 1964 in London, England.
- She appeared in Blood Diamond (2006) and Let Him Have It (1991).
- She also works as a director.
- She has taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
- She married theatre director Howard Davies in April 2005.
Key Biographical Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Clare Margaret Holman |
| Born | 12 January 1964 |
| Birthplace | London, England, UK |
| Occupation | Actress, director |
| Known for | Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse and Lewis |
| Notable work | Blood Diamond (2006), Let Him Have It (1991) |
| Stage recognition | Laurence Olivier Award nominee |
| Spouse | Howard Davies (2005–2016) |
| Other screen credits | Suite Française |
| Teaching | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
Clare Holman Young: Early Photos and Career Start
Holman’s early career took shape in the late 1980s, with an appearance in The Woman in Black (1989) followed by a role in Let Him Have It (1991). For anyone looking for images from that period, Getty Images hosts a gallery of press photographs from across her career.
The stage ran in parallel with the screen work, and her reputation in theatre later contributed to the Olivier Award nomination that appears across multiple professional biographies.
Is Clare Holman Married? Partner and Children
The public record on Holman’s personal life is limited. She was married to theatre director Howard Davies; the couple wed in April 2005. Davies died in October 2016. Wikipedia, IMDb, and her talent agency biography all confirm the marriage, but they do not go further on a current relationship.
Who Is Clare Holman’s Partner?
The only partner confirmed in reliable sources is Howard Davies. He was a respected theatre director, and he was married to Holman from April 2005 until his death in October 2016. Since his death, no new partner has been publicly named in the documentation reviewed.
Does Clare Holman Have Children?
No source confirms biological children. Wikipedia mentions stepchildren and stepgrandchildren from Davies’s previous marriage, while IMDb lists “Stepchild” in her family details. That is the extent of what is publicly documented.
The marriage to Howard Davies is confirmed across multiple sources. Whether Clare Holman has children is not confirmed; the available sources only describe stepchildren from Davies’s earlier marriage.
What Is Clare Holman’s Net Worth?
No authoritative net worth figure exists in the sources consulted. The more credible biographical references do not publish a verified number, so any value circulating online should be treated with caution. A biography roundup that examined the topic reached the same conclusion.
Numbers circulating online for Clare Holman’s net worth are not backed by any verified source. Credible references — her agency biography, Wikipedia, and IMDb — do not publish a figure.
Who Is Clare Holman? Career and Famous Roles
Clare Holman is a British actress and director. Her defining screen role is Dr. Laura Hobson, the forensic pathologist in Inspector Morse and its successor Lewis, a character she played from 1995 to 2015. Her continuity in the role is notable: Plex lists her among the actors who appeared in both series, and IMDb notes that, alongside Kevin Whately, she is the only other actor to play the same character across the franchise.
In Lewis, her credits run from 2006 to 2015, according to TheMovieDB. For comparisons with other actors from the same wave of British TV crime drama, John Nettles – Biography, Age, Wife and What He Does Today covers another long career in the genre.
According to IMDb, besides Kevin Whately, Clare Holman is the only other actor to play the same character in both Inspector Morse and Lewis.
Is Clare Holman an Actress?
Yes. Holman is an actress and director whose credits span stage, film, and television. Her film work includes Blood Diamond (2006), Let Him Have It (1991), and Suite Française. On stage, she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a highlight of her profile at Independent Talent. She has also taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and her screen credits are catalogued on aggregator sites such as Rotten Tomatoes.
What Are the Key Dates in Clare Holman’s Career and Life?
- 1964 — Born in London, England. (Wikipedia; IMDb)
- 1989 — Appeared in The Woman in Black.
- 1991 — Cast in Let Him Have It. (FilmReference)
- 1995–2015 — Played Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse and Lewis. (Wikipedia; IMDb)
- 2005 — Married Howard Davies. (Wikipedia)
- 2006 — Appeared in Blood Diamond. (IMDb)
- 2016 — Howard Davies died. (Independent Talent)
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Clare Holman?
For readers looking into specific details, the difference between documented facts and open questions matters. The table below separates the two.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: 12 January 1964 | A verified net worth figure |
| Birthplace: London, England | Current relationship or marital status |
| Occupation: actress and director | Whether she has biological children |
| Known for playing Laura Hobson | Any net worth number circulating online |
| Nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award | Private life details beyond her marriage to Davies |
How Did Clare Holman Become a Familiar Face on British Television?
Holman’s career spans television classics, crime drama, and feature film. The role of Dr. Laura Hobson placed her at the centre of one of British television’s most enduring detective franchises, and her continued presence across both Inspector Morse and Lewis made her a recognisable figure for years.
The continuity of her character is part of what makes her career unusual. Where most actors moved in and out of the franchise, Holman and Kevin Whately carried the same roles across both series, giving viewers a consistent anchor in the storytelling.
Despite her long public career, Holman has kept personal details largely out of the press, which explains why questions about relationships and family remain hard to answer with certainty. For readers exploring other British television faces of the same period, Dervla Kirwan – Biography, Movies, TV Shows, and Family offers a related career overview.
Where Do the Facts About Clare Holman Come From?
Different sources carry different weight on this subject. Wikipedia supplies the general biographical summary, IMDb documents film credits, and Independent Talent, as her agency, provides professional career highlights.
Clare Holman is best known for playing forensic pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis.
— Wikipedia
IMDb records her as the only other actor, alongside Kevin Whately, to play the same character across both Inspector Morse and Lewis.
— IMDb
Her stage performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
— Independent Talent
Where sources disagree or remain silent, especially on personal matters, the uncertainty is noted in the main text rather than smoothed over.
What Is the Bottom Line on Clare Holman?
Clare Holman is a British actress and director whose career has moved from the stage to film and long-running television drama. Laura Hobson remains her most recognised role, and her marriage to Howard Davies is the main documented fact in her private life. No verified net worth exists in the record, and questions about children remain unanswered by reliable sources.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clare Holman
Where can I read Clare Holman’s official Wikipedia biography?
The English Wikipedia page for Clare Holman provides a biographical summary, including her birth date, known roles, and noted family details. It is a common first stop for basic facts.
What is Clare Holman best known for?
Clare Holman is best known for playing forensic pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis, a role she held from 1995 to 2015.
Did Clare Holman have children?
The sources do not confirm biological children. Wikipedia mentions stepchildren and stepgrandchildren from Howard Davies’s previous marriage, and IMDb lists “Stepchild”.
Who was Howard Davies?
Howard Davies was a theatre director. He married Clare Holman in April 2005 and died in October 2016.
Did Clare Holman appear in Blood Diamond?
Yes. Clare Holman appeared in Blood Diamond (2006). Her other notable screen credits include Let Him Have It (1991) and Suite Française.
Did Clare Holman win a Laurence Olivier Award?
She received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The available sources confirm the nomination but do not confirm a win.
Where was Clare Holman born?
Clare Holman was born on 12 January 1964 in London, England, and she is 62 years old as of 2026.
Henry William Morgan Harrison is a staff writer for NorwichWire.co.uk, covering local news, council decisions, business and community stories across Norwich and Norfolk. He works under Editor-in-Chief William Hargreaves and Managing Editor Clara Benson, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.