Honestly, if you haven’t realized by now that Sharon Duncan-Brewster is basically everywhere, you haven’t been paying attention. She’s one of those rare actors who can slide from a gritty British soap to a sprawling galactic empire without breaking a sweat. Most people probably recognize her from the 2021 Dune reboot, but her resume is a massive, sprawling map of prestige TV and cult-classic cinema.
She doesn't just play characters; she anchors them. Whether she’s staring down a Sandworm or dealing with a messy divorce in Albert Square, there’s a specific kind of gravity she brings to the screen.
Sharon Duncan-Brewster Movies and TV Shows: The Big Break and the Blockbusters
For a lot of international fans, the obsession started with Liet-Kynes. In Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Duncan-Brewster took a character that was originally a man in the books and turned the role into something far more ethereal and commanding. She played the Imperial Planetologist with a "don't mess with me" energy that honestly made the movie.
But that wasn't her first trip to space. Not even close.
The Sci-Fi Queen
She’s carved out a massive niche in the sci-fi world. You’ve likely spotted her in:
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- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: She played Senator Tynnra Pamlo. It’s a smaller role, sure, but she brought a level of regal skepticism to the Rebel Alliance that felt incredibly grounded.
- Andor: She actually reprised that Senator Pamlo role here, proving that once you’re in the Disney machine and you're good, they keep you around.
- Doctor Who: Remember "The Waters of Mars"? It’s widely considered one of the best (and scariest) episodes of the David Tennant era. She played Maggie Cain, and if you haven't seen it, prepare for some nightmares involving water.
- Intergalactic: A bit of a hidden gem on Sky where she played Tula Quik. It’s high-octane, messy sci-fi, and she’s the glue holding the group together.
The Villainous Turn in Enola Holmes 2
Kinda recently, she appeared in Enola Holmes 2 as a version of Moriarty. It was a brilliant twist. Most people expect a middle-aged guy in a suit, but her portrayal was sharp, calculating, and genuinely threatening. It’s a role that demands a certain intellectual arrogance, and she nailed it. Word on the street is we might be seeing more of her in Enola Holmes 3 (scheduled for 2026), which is a huge win for everyone.
From the Cell Block to the Cul-de-Sac: Her TV Roots
Before she was a Hollywood mainstay, Sharon Duncan-Brewster was putting in the work on British TV. We’re talking the kind of roles that people in the UK still talk about in pubs.
Bad Girls was a massive deal in the early 2000s. She played Crystal Gordon, a character who was deeply religious and trying to navigate the absolute chaos of a women's prison. She stayed for the first four series, and it’s still one of the performances people bring up first when they meet her.
Then there’s the EastEnders of it all. In 2009, she played Trina Johnson. If you know the storyline, you know it was... dark. Her character was the estranged wife of the preacher-turned-serial-killer Lucas Johnson. The way she died (getting impaled on a rake in a garden shed—yes, really) is one of the most infamous exits in the show’s history. It was peak soap opera drama, and she sold every second of it.
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Netflix and the Modern Era
You probably know her as Roz Marchetti in Sex Education. Playing Jackson’s "softer" mum, she provided a much-needed balance to the high-pressure environment of that household. It showed a totally different side of her—vulnerable, maternal, and incredibly patient.
Then you have Years and Years. If you haven't seen this Russell T Davies miniseries, go watch it now. She plays Fran Baxter, and the show is a terrifyingly plausible look at the future of the UK. It’s heavy stuff, but her performance is part of what makes it so human.
What's Next? 2025 and 2026 Projects
The momentum isn't slowing down. If anything, it’s speeding up.
- Washington Black (2025): This is a huge Hulu/Disney+ production based on the Esi Edugyan novel. She’s playing Miss Angie alongside Sterling K. Brown and Tom Ellis. It’s a 19th-century adventure story about an 11-year-old boy fleeing a Barbados sugar plantation. Expect this to be a major awards contender.
- From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025): She’s moving into the Keanu Reeves-adjacent action world. Details are thin, but seeing her in the high-style, high-violence world of John Wick is basically a dream come true for fans of her more intense work.
- Enola Holmes 3 (2026): As mentioned, the Moriarty arc is far from over.
Why Sharon Duncan-Brewster Still Matters
The reason her career is so fascinating is the lack of "typecasting." She’s played a scientist, a senator, a prisoner, a mother, and a master criminal. She doesn't fit into a box, which is probably why her filmography is so diverse.
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She also does a ton of voice work you might not know about. If you’ve played FIFA 17, 18, or 19, that was her as Catherine Hunter in the story mode. She’s also a regular in the Star Wars animated world, voicing Senator Pamlo in The Bad Batch.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to truly appreciate her range, don't just stick to the big movies.
- The "Must-Watch" Starter Pack: Dune, Sex Education, and Bad Girls.
- The Deep Cut: Track down the 2011 series Top Boy (the original Summerhouse run). She plays Lisa, and it’s a masterclass in gritty, understated acting.
- The Sci-Fi Binge: Watch "The Waters of Mars" (Doctor Who) followed immediately by Rogue One. The contrast is wild.
The take-away? Sharon Duncan-Brewster isn't just a supporting actor anymore. She’s a powerhouse who has spent decades building a foundation in every genre imaginable. Keep an eye on her upcoming 2025 releases—she's clearly entering a "prestige" era of her career that’s going to make her a household name globally.
Pro Tip: If you're a fan of her voice work, check out her theatre credits or her roles in audio dramas like The Swarm. She has one of the most distinctive, commanding voices in the industry right now.